Pinkpodster Ponders

I’m eternally grateful and proud of my family who have served in the United States Armed Forces. 

My family, with primarily African ancestry, has served in all military branches since World War I.

Thank you for your service! 🇺🇸🫡

Family members not pictured:

• Clarence Hill – U.S. Army WWI
• Noah Hill – U.S. Army WWI
• Grady Hill Sr. – U.S. Army WWII
• Rufus H. Sadler – U.S. Army
• Sgt. Brian Sadler – U.S. Army
• Stanley Sadler – U.S. Army
• Sgt. Ceera Sadler – U.S. Army
• Siriniti Sadler – U.S. Navy

I think some of my family fought in wars before WWI, but I haven’t finished researching that yet. This includes family members who were Native Americans and those of European descent.

My dad the Army man

This is the first Veterans Day without my father who served in the U.S. Army. I’ll miss our adventures trying to find as many places possible offering Veterans with freebies and discounts. My mother took part in these shenanigans too.

My Dad served way before I was born. He didn’t talk about his time in the military much to me. But when he did, the stories were often funny. They were mostly about him singing with the 53rd Army Band and the 28th Army Chorus. I laughed at his story about being ordered to drive an officer one day. He tried to explain to the officer that he didn’t know how to drive. But a command is a command. He almost gave that man a heart attack trying to drive the winding Monterey roads.

I also remember him talking about some of the guys he served with. He was close to one who was Asian. It was amazing to me that this was possible in the late 1950s. My father had no voting rights in his home state nor where he grew up. Nor could he eat in a restaurant with white people or drink from the same water fountain. But by enlisting in the military his life was slightly more integrated.

Sadly it was only because of his funeral that I became curious about his service. The sound of taps playing moved my spirit. The serviceman was slightly teary and blue-eyed. I was deeply touched when he presented me with the perfectly folded flag after the military honors were done.

Military life in photo: WWII and in peace time

My father’s stories were lighthearted glimpses of military life. Yet, I know life serving the United States during segregation must not have been easy.

At a family reunion we recorded My Uncle Rufus talking about being in the Pacific War during WWII. He cooked for the troops. I can verify his skills from his later life. He make the most delicious yeast rolls and his candied yams were top tier. He was in Nagoya, Japan at one point. I like our shared connection of being in Japan. Although for me it was a dream vacation.

My Uncle Cuthbert, who immigrated to the U.S. as teenager, served during WWII. My grandfather, who immigrated from Guyana was in his forties when the U.S. entered WWII. He was still a recent naturalized citizen. His son, My Uncle Stanley, served during the Vietnam War. I never heard their stories but I’m happy to see them in photos. Those images are the ultimate acknowledgment that they were once here and as patriotic as anyone born here.

Despite how oppressed Black people and immigrants have been in America, they have always served their country honorably.

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Keep your history alive

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Check out some of these resources to find information about military service:

• U.S. National Archives
• Fold3
• Ancestry

Originally published November 11, 2024