TAMPA, Fla. — Roy Caldwood, who is 100 years old and served in the Army, was honored by the City of Tampa on Wednesday.
He is a soldier of the buffalo. Most of the men in these U.S. Army units were African-American.
There were two units in the 92nd infantry. Caldwood was in the battalion that went to Italy, where he worked as a medic for the army. He remarked that he was surprised that racism wasn’t as big of a deal in Italy as it was back home.
Caldwood remarked, “To say I’m shocked would be an understatement. There are no words to describe how I feel.”
Caldwood added that while he was abroad, he had a lot of close calls. He says that’s because he’s willing to do anything.
The veteran remarked, “Whatever it is, I’ll find a way to make things go the way I want them to.” “I don’t care what it is, how absurd it is, or how you’re going to die. It made no difference. It made no difference. I’ll do it. If I die, I die.”
Luis Viera, a member of the Tampa City Council, gave Caldwood many photos and a proclamation from the mayor. He also invited people to talk about how much of an impact Caldwood has had.
“Mr. Caldwood served on two battlefields,” said Cory Person, president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association. “He served on a battlefield in Europe and World War II, and he also fought for civil rights for black soldiers and black people all over our country here at home.”
“He and other Buffalo Soldiers made it possible for me to serve my country without having to go through some of the same battles that he had.”
As any real American hero would, he took the honor with a humble heart.
“I don’t deserve that. I didn’t do anything to deserve it. Caldwood said, “I did nothing at all.”
