NEW YORK – Veterans in Harlem find a common home at American Legion Post #398, which bears the name of the Army’s first black general, Charles Young.
The 20th century hero was posthumously promoted to Brigadier General last year, and the Legion’s leaders use the title to inspire their neighbors.
Who is Brigadier General Charles Young?
Born into slavery the year before the Civil War, Young was an infant when his father orchestrated the family’s escape, after which he returned to the South as a Union soldier. Following his father’s passion for patriotism, Young became only the third black graduate of West Point.
Young was tapped to develop the Military Science program at Wilberforce University in Ohio, the first of its kind for black students, and he continued to train young black soldiers during the Spanish-American War, before leading troops in combat from the Philippines to Liberia. Young was also appointed the first Black National Parks superintendent.
After his death, a year after its founding, members of the Harlem American Legion paid for Young’s body to be transported from Liberia and then to Arlington National Cemetery for a burial with full honors.
“Many black veterans were not recognized for what they did”
Post #398 Commander Trenton Brown said Young deserves his posthumous promotion to brigadier general for his lifetime of leadership.
“It means a lot to me and to the family,” Brown said, “because a lot of black veterans didn’t get the recognition that they should have gotten for what they did.”
“When they told him he was ready to be discharged, he rode 500 miles on horseback to prove his physical fitness,” said Edward Feaster, first vice commander at American Legion Post #398.
Today, members follow in Young’s footsteps, hosting youth for citizenship training and oration competitions. They also actively reach out to younger veterans, who face a new set of challenges after their service.
“There is a high suicide rate among veterans,” Brown said, “and we are here to listen to them and help them.”
A safe place for those in need is essential. The veterans are raising money for repairs to their 100-year-old building, including rebuilding the quarterdeck. But with the new nameplate, Brigadier General Charles Young will be calling out to the community as a beacon of hope.
The naming ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 24 outside the American Legion on West 132nd Street.
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Jessi Mitchell
