As Memorial Day approaches we honor the United States Colored Troops of the American Civil War. Nearly 290,000 Black men risked everything to fight for freedom during the war, not knowing if they would survive or face enslavement once again. Joining the program are Edward Gantt, Jeffrey Blansett, and Victoria Chase, all active with the African Americans in the Civil War Era Round Table (AACWERT). [caption id="attachment_183218" align="alignleft" width="159"] Edward W. Gantt, Captain, U.S.Navy (Retired)[/caption] Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Edward Gantt graduated from Howard University and the National Defense University. He served 30 years in the military, first as a door gunner on a Huey helicopter in Vietnam with the Army, then joining the Navy after completing his degree, eventually rising to Navy Captain. He served as a Naval Flight Officer in F-14 TOMCAT squadrons, both in the U.S. and aboard aircraft carriers. After retiring from the military, Gantt became a high school teacher in public schools in Prince George’s County, MD, and Washington, D.C. Passionate about telling underrepresented stories, he joined the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, an African American Civil War reenactment group, and also serves with the 23rd USCT in Maryland. He is active with The African Americans in the Civil War Era Round Table and serves as Vice Commander-in-Chief of the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW). [caption id="attachment_183221" align="alignleft" width="200"] Jeffrey Blansett[/caption] Jeffrey Blansett, a high school teacher and principal in Blythe, California, is an historian and content creator for the 97th U.S. Colored Infantry, and commanding officer of a U.S. Colored Troops living history group in the Southwest United States. He will discuss the legacy, sacrifice, and overlooked stories of the United States Colored Troops. [caption id="attachment_183223" align="alignleft" width="179"] Victoria Chase[/caption] Victoria Chase currently serves as Treasurer of AACWERT. Victoria has revitalized and re-released the book I Remember the Buffalo Soldiers, written by her great-grandmother, Sybil Barnes who was born in Kansas City, MO, in 1909. The late Sybil Barns, recalls her life as the wife of a Buffalo Soldier stationed at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Founded by individuals committed to preserving this history, AACWERT was created to ensure the stories of the USCT are finally told and remembered. Links to additional information of the United States Colored Troops (USCT), African Americans who served as Union Soldiers in the Civil War: 97TH U.S. COLORED INFANTRY History of the famous Louisiana Native Guards (73rd USCT). Several of their enlisted men and black officers would become Civil Rights leaders during the time period and be co-founders of the National Equal Rights League. Complete list of U.S. Colored Troops reenacting/living history groups that one can join today: Living History and USCT Reenacting groups Published accounts of USCT from African American men who served and wrote about it: James Henry Gooding, On the Altar of Freedom – A Black Soldier’s Civil War Letters from the Front, first published as letters in the New Bedford Mercury, 1863 (as a book in 1991) George Washington Williams, A History of the Negro Troops in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 – 1865, published in 1887 Joseph T. Wilson, The Black Phalanx – A History of the Negro Soldiers of the United States in the Wars of 1775 - 1812 and 1861 – ‘65, published in 1887, available as free download from the Gutenberg project at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31339) Host/producer/engineer: Donna Morrow Wolfe
