On Monday, while America geared up to celebrate its independence, the Ohio National Guard paid tribute to the unsung Black heroes who played a vital role in maintaining the unity of the country during the Civil War.
Last year, the Ohio National Guard launched the “Freedom to Serve” initiative to honor the 75th anniversary of President Harry Truman’s executive orders that facilitated the integration of the U.S. military and federal workforce.
The Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory complex located at 2825 W Dublin-Granville Road on Columbus’ Northwest Side was the venue for this year’s festivities. The event commemorated the social media posts that the Ohio National Guard created in honor of the four Black men from Ohio who were awarded the Medal of Honor for their remarkable service during the Civil War. The celebration took place on Monday, and it was a momentous occasion.
According to the website of the Ohio National Guard, the initial celebration revolved around discussions on a battalion comprising entirely of Black women during World War II.
During the recent event at the armory, Kelly Mezurek, a renowned historian of U.S. ‘colored troops’ and a professor of history at Walsh University, delivered this year’s keynote address. In her speech, she expressed her unwavering commitment to share the stories of Black soldiers in the Civil War every chance she gets. Her passion for shedding light on the heroic contributions of these soldiers was evident in her powerful words that resonated with the audience.
Mezurek received an honorary “Buckeye Colonel” award for her impressive work at the end of the ceremony.
During the event, Mezurek expressed his belief that people tend to invest their time in things they consider significant. He also highlighted that historians have neglected the contribution of certain individuals for a long time. Mezurek hopes that the videos will support his efforts to bring about a positive change in this area.
During the event, Ohio Adjutant Gen. John Harris highlighted the tendency of people to prioritize their personal survival in times of adversity, often sticking to the status quo. However, he emphasized the significance of the four individuals’ story, pointing out that they went above and beyond their personal survival and comfort zone to make a positive impact.
Who are the four men who were awarded the Medal of Honor?
Four brave soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their service in the 5th U.S. Colored Infantry. This regiment was comprised entirely of Black men from Ohio.
During the speech, Mezurek highlighted that unlike many other “colored regiments” which were often assigned to fatigue duty, the 5th regiment had the opportunity to engage in numerous battles.
During the Battle of New Market Heights in Virginia, the four members namely Sgt. Maj. Milton Holland, 1st Sgt. Robert Pinn, 1st Sgt. Powhatan Beaty, and 1st Sgt. James Bronson, displayed exceptional bravery and were honored with the Medal of Honor.
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In Athens County, Holland was able to gather 149 men and form a company before he eventually joined the 5th regiment. Mezurek recounted an interesting anecdote about how Holland was denied a promotion to captain, but Major General Benjamin Butler of the Union Army was impressed by his bravery and commented that he would have promoted Holland to brigadier general himself if he had the authority.
According to Mezurek, Beaty and Pinn received some recognition for their contributions, such as having memorials dedicated to them. As an example, the shooting facility at the University of Akron was renamed in honor of Pinn.
According to Mezurek, the trio of Holland, Pinn, and Beaty exemplify the intelligence, skill, and talent of Black individuals, which deserve greater recognition. On the other hand, Bronson represents the more common experience of Black soldiers who served during the Civil War. Mezurek conveyed this message to the group.
Unfortunately, there is no existing photo of Bronson to this day, and compared to the other three, not much information is available about him. His life after returning to civilian status was a constant struggle, as he never received any pension for his dedicated service.
During the event, Mezurek emphasized the significance of memorials in honoring individuals for their service. He expressed his support for renaming armories after such men, indicating that it would be a fitting tribute to their contributions.
During her talk, Mezurek expressed her concern over the lack of awareness regarding the tragedy. She stated that in today’s age of social media, such incidents would have been widely circulated. Mezurek also mentioned that people in Ohio are not aware of the situation, and she considers it a tragedy.
During the event, Ohio National Guard members participated in a panel discussion and shared their perspectives on the significance of this story.