Toward the end of World War II in Italy, a group of about 30-40 German soldiers surrendered to Virgin Islander Roy Caldwood and his platoon in the 92nd Infantry Division of the United States Army — an all-black division known as the “Buffalo Soldiers.”
Now 103 years old, Mr. Caldwood, who is one of the last surviving Buffalo Soldiers, is being honoured for the first time in the territory for his service in WWII.
At the time he served, the US military was racially segregated, and his division took the buffalo as its insignia after the 19th Century African-American regiments who purportedly were given the nickname by Native Americans who fought them during the American Indian Wars.
JVD museum
Mr. Caldwood — whose parents were Lucille Elmira Smith of Tortola and Felix James Caldwood of Jost Van Dyke — will also have a museum erected in his name on Jost Van Dyke.
On Saturday, a ground-breaking ceremony was held for the Roy Caldwood Buffalo Soldier Heritage Museum.
This museum, which will be the first on the sister island, will be located on Buffalo Hill. It will not only honour Mr. Caldwood and his legacy but also other notable figures from the island, according to a press release from Miss World BVI, which also hosted a ceremony honouring him on Tortola last week.
“The museum will also highlight other notable figures from Jost Van Dyke, including Private Samuel Hodge VC of the 4th West India Regiment — the first Black soldier ever awarded the Victoria Cross for his extraordinary bravery during the 1866 capture of Tubabacollon in the Gambia River,” the release stated.
A foundation is also in the works to “manage donations, oversee project development, and work alongside experienced museum curators including Dr. Angel Smith and international partners affiliated with the National World War II Museum in New Orleans,” the release stated.
Tortola ceremony
Two days before the groundbreaking on JVD, Mr. Caldwood was also honoured on Tortola.
People packed into a room at the Learning Resource Centre at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College last Thursday evening to celebrate the 103-year-old.
During the ceremony, Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley joined other government officials in presenting Mr. Caldwood with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mr. Caldwood also spoke, recounting how a group of German soldiers decided to surrender to his platoon in World War II.
At the time, he explained, he was on a humanitarian mission through a dangerous road that became known as “Purple Heart Stretch” due to the number of American soldiers killed and wounded there.
“On that stretch of road, Purple Heart Stretch, I led a mission to try to help people,” Mr. Caldwood recounted. “The Germans couldn’t believe it. They said, ‘We’re going to find out what this man — this soldier and his two others that he had with him — what they are doing here.’”
Mr. Caldwood explained that the Italian campaign was nearing its end and German soldiers facing defeat had been killing as many American soldiers as they could. But after learning Mr. Caldwood and his fellow soldiers were on a humanitarian mission, the Germans chose to surrender peacefully, he said.
Other accolades
The VI events were not the first time Mr. Caldwood has earned accolades.
He was also awarded a bronze star medal — a military decoration awarded to US service members who distinguish themselves heroically or meritoriously in a combat zone.
Last Thursday, however, was the first time he was publicly honoured in the VI.
“I believe that this is something that we have to make sure all the young people in the Virgin Islands are familiar with — that we can have persons who come from a little tiny place called the Virgin Islands and go all over the world to defend freedoms and to do remarkable things to make all of us proud,” Mr. Wheatley said last Thursday evening.
Opposition member Mitch Turnbull, who represents Jost Van Dyke, also spoke.
“It’s amazing that even though it seems like it took a long time to honour you, this moment is a special moment in the history of the Virgin Islands, because while you have been honoured around the world, throughout the US, we now are honouring you here in the BVI for your service, for your life, for your generosity, for the person that you’ve become and the legacy that you have instilled in these Virgin Islands,” Mr. Turnbull told Mr. Caldwood.
Also during the ceremony, VI historian Angel Smith provided historical context about the VI’s contributions to World War II. Virgin Islanders, for instance, went to St. Thomas to help work on a submarine base and an airport, according to Mr. Smith.
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