[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 31 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E449-E450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    BLACK HISTORY MILITARY HERITAGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 12, 1997

  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, last month I had the opportunity to attend 
a ground breaking ceremony for the Afro-American Memorial Museum at 
Camp Blanding, FL. The museum hopes to foster understanding, interest 
and pride in the military history of Florida and in particular of black 
Floridians.
  The dedicating speech at this event was given by Prof. Robert Hawk, a 
former Navy corpsman and current professor of American and Florida 
history. To put it simply, Professor Hawk is the exemplification of the 
museum itself. He has authored many books on the Armed Forces and on 
Florida; he has worked for the Florida Department of Military Affairs 
as a historical site interpreter; he has assembled and published 150 
volumes of archival material on Florida history; and he has codesigned 
and created three public museums devoted to Florida history. We all 
have a lot to learn from a man like Professor Hawk. His speech at the 
ground breaking struck a chord with me; it enlightened me; and it made 
me proud to be an American and a Floridian.
  Mr. Speaker, attached is the text of Professor Hawk's speech from the 
ground breaking. it is to be made part of the Record. I urge my 
colleagues, and indeed all Americans, to read through what he has to 
say. His message is invaluable in understanding the history behind our 
great country, and is therefore invaluable in understanding the pride 
in being an American, a Floridian, and a neighbor of great men like 
Professor Hawk.

                    Black Florida Military Heritage

                            (By Robert Hawk)

       A narrative version, based on the notes prepared, of the 
     speech I gave the Black History Month groundbreaking ceremony 
     for the ``Walk Through Time'' memorial project at Camp 
     Blanding, Florida; February 21, 1997. Its pretty rough as it 
     was designed as a speech and not a finished product for 
     publication. Anyway, here it is as best I could reconstruct 
     it! I am also enclosing a copy of the historical background 
     material for the project grant that was handed out at the 
     ceremony as I wrote that as well and it tells the story a bit 
     more coherently.
       As a professional historian and teacher, I am frequently 
     surprised, indeed depressed to realize how very little the 
     average American knows of our country's history. And for 
     Florida history; even among individuals born and raised here, 
     with long family histories associated with the state, their 
     knowledge of our state's history is generally extremely 
     limited, often non-existent. There is virtually no knowledge 
     or appreciation of our peninsula's long, interesting and 
     distinguished history which extends over more than four 
     centuries.
       And knowledge of Florida's Black military historical 
     heritage? Even less is known.
       Contemporary, popular or ``politically correct'' view of 
     Florida, and its Black history, suggests cotton fields and 
     slaves and, for virtually everyone, Florida history begins 
     when the Americans take over in 1821.
       But this view completely overlooks the more than 350 years 
     of Florida's history which precedes American control and, it 
     ignores the important military service which Black Floridians 
     have given their new world home for all those preceding 
     centuries.
       Our ``Walk Through Time'' memorial is designed to 
     commemorate the entire 430 years of dedicated military 
     service by Black Floridians. And that unique heritage begins 
     where it should; at the beginning!


                                  1565

       When Pedro Menendez de Aviles established the military or 
     presidio settlement of St. Augustine in September 1565, he 
     mustered all his troops and the settler militia. The company 
     of local militia contained at least two men of African 
     origins. As a note, under Spanish law, in a presidio or 
     military settlement, all males, black/white, free and slave; 
     Indians, mixed bloods; even convicts were liable for military 
     or militia service.
       From 1565 on, there was never a time when there were no men 
     of African origin serving in the Florida militia or local 
     garrison. By the middle of the 17th century, at least one 
     entire company of Florida militia infantry was composed 
     entirely of free and slave black local residents.
       During the War of Jenkins Ear, Florida was partially 
     defended by a Black infantry company of former slaves and 
     free citizens attached to the Fort Mose settlement north of 
     St. Augustine commanded by Francisco Menendez, a former slave 
     and now wealthy free man of color in Florida. In June 1740 
     after the British invaded Florida and laid siege to the 
     city of St. Augustine, those Black soldier, along with 
     their Spanish Regular compatriots, successfully assaulted 
     the British positions at the occupied Ft. Mose, 
     precipitating the subsequent evacuation of Florida by the 
     British.
       Few Floridians and fewer Americans seem aware that Florida 
     was a Loyalist colony during the war of the American 
     Revolution. The colony raised a regiment of East Florida 
     Rangers of nine companies, at least one of which was entirely 
     composed of local Black citizens. The Rangers fought the 
     Rebels from the north several times and never lost a battle, 
     eventually helping the British occupy east Georgia which they 
     held until war's end.
       During the Second Spanish period following the Revolution, 
     Florida had many Black infantry and artillery militiamen.
       In 1821 the Americans took over Florida. Things would 
     change as the Americans had different institutions and 
     values. There would be a much reduced, almost non-existent 
     role for Blacks in the local militia but some Florida Blacks 
     did serve in the Seminole Indians Wars.
       And then there is America's most devastating war; the Civil 
     War or the War of Northern Aggression.
       Most people believe all Southern Blacks who serve in the 
     war did so in the Union Army. Not so. Throughout the South, 
     approximately 40,000 Southern Blacks, both free men and 
     slave, actively served in or with the Confederate Army and 
     they fought for their homeland; the South.
       Some did serve in the Union Army. From Florida, most local 
     Blacks who served the Union did so in the 1st South Carolina, 
     later re-named the 33rd US Colored Infantry.
       But other Florida Blacks served the South. For example, at 
     least twelve local men of color served in Company B, 3rd 
     Florida Infantry, Confederate States Army, one of whom was 
     Corporal Emmanuel Osborne. His brother Samuel Osborne, served 
     as a Private in the 33rd US Colored Infantry, Union Army. Not 
     only white families were divided by this terrible war.
       After the Civil War, Florida, and America's military and 
     militia units were segregated. Black militia units in Florida 
     did not receive official recognition but Black Floridians 
     continued to organize and train their own militia units right 
     up to the beginning of the First World War. Some Florida 
     Blacks served in the Black Regiments of the Army fighting 
     Indians in the West, in Cuba and the Philippines. At least 
     three members of those regiments from Florida were killed in 
     action at the Battle of San Juan Hill in 1898 and are buried 
     in the National cemetery in St. Augustine.
       During World War I and World War II, America's military 
     remained segregated. But thousands of Black Floridians served 
     in the military, some died and some were killed in action 
     fighting the Germans in the First War and Germans and 
     Japanese during the Second.
       Largely desegregated after the Second War, Black Floridians 
     continued to serve their state and nation in Korea, Vietnam,

[[Page E450]]

     Desert Storm and in all the many military deployments and 
     associated activities of our nation since 1945.
       And, finally, three African American Floridians have 
     received our nation's highest medal for valor; the Medal of 
     Honor. Adam Paine, Clifford Sims and Robert Jenkins.
       Adam Paine was a Seminole Negro Indian Scout with the 4th 
     US Cavalry and earned his medal 20 September 1874 on the 
     Staked Plains of Texas. He was born in Florida and moved to 
     Mexico just before the outbreak of the Civil War and crossed 
     into Texas after the war to join the Army. To quote from his 
     citation; ``Seminole Negro Indian Scout Adam Paine; for 
     gallantry when attacked by a hugely superior party of 
     Indians. This is a Scout of great courage'' signed Colonel 
     Ranald MacKenzie; commanding the regiment.
       Clifford Sims of Port St. Joe, Florida, was a Staff 
     Sergeant with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam when he earned 
     his medal 21 February 1968 in a battle associated with the 
     Communist Tet Offensive near Hue.
       He was a squad leader leading his men in an attack against 
     heavily fortified enemy positions. He exhibited excellent 
     leadership throughout the battle and saved his men from 
     serious injury when an enemy ammo position exploded. Shortly 
     afterward, when the unmistakable sound of an enemy booby trap 
     being sprung was heard, he threw himself on the enemy device 
     and was killed. His men lived.
       Robert Jenkins Jr., of Interlachen, Florida was a Private 
     First Class in the United States Marine Corps when he earned 
     his medal on 5 March 1969 near the DMZ in northern Vietnam. 
     He was serving as a machine gunner with Recon unit when his 
     position was assaulted by NVA Regular troops. He and his 
     assistant gunner fought back effectively, but when an enemy 
     grenade was thrown into their position, Jenkins, without 
     hesitation, placed himself between the grenade and his 
     comrade, thus receiving the wounds from which he died later 
     that day. His fellow Marine lived. He came to visit Robert's 
     grave in Florida just this past year.
       Well, this is but a sample of Florida's Black military 
     heritage which we wish to commemorate with this memorial 
     project. It is an interesting, unusual and distinguished 
     heritage; one that needs to be made known to all Floridians. 
     Out ``Walk Through Time'' memorial exhibit will be a start 
     toward making this part of our state's long and incredibly 
     diverse history available to the general public.
       We extend our most profound thanks and appreciation to all 
     of those who have, or who will, assist us in the creation and 
     completion of this project.

                          ____________________