Military

Allegany Hi Grads Meet In Vietnam

Two local soldiers, Sp/5 Rodney R. Keys, (right) and Sp./4 William Powell (left), both 1966 graduates of Allegany High School, had an unexpected reunion recently in Long Binh, South Vietnam.

Sp./5 Keys, who had traveled over 600 miles to a Long Binh base camp for special training, discovered that Sp./4 Powell was stationed at the same location. Sp./5 Keys reports that Sp./4 Powell was "one surprised soldier" upon seeing his first stateside acquaintance since his overseas assignment began nine months ago.

Herman J. Washington, depicted here in a 1965 photograph while stationed in Korea, was a member of the last class that graduated from Carver High School in 1955. His father, Herman G. Washington, worked for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for 50 years and retired from there in 1975. He passed away in February 1986. His mother, Kathleen Francis, graduated from the Frederick Street School in the class of 1927 and is depicted in the 1978 Class Reunion photograph.

William H. Rhodes, 1922 - 1961

William (Bill) Rhodes was a United States Army veteran of the Korean War, as well as World War II. It was during the Korean War while serving in E Company, 35th Infantry, 25th Division, that PFC Bill Rhodes was captured and became an American Prisoner of War (POW). According to archival data he was assigned to Camp 1: POW Camp Ch'ang-Song. It was while assigned to Camp 5: POW Camp Pyoktong that he met a fellow POW from Cumberland, Robert McGreevy.

Clarence Edward Trimble, Sr. – First “Negro” Korean War Registrant

The following is excerpted from an article which appeared in the Cumberland Evening Times, February 6, 1951. It was entitled, “Cumberland Area Sends One Hundredth Draftee And First Negro Registrant into Armed Services.” The newspaper article was written by William Mackert.

Clifton Brooks (1922-2021)

WAR HERO Airman: Fought battles before war

Airman recalls triumphs before facing battle Keyser man fought for equality before fighting in World War II

KEYSER, W.Va. —--

We wanted to serve. But we found as much prejudice there as we had here. Clifton Brooks, former Tuskegee Airman

Mineral Veterans Day parade to honor fallen Piedmont soldier
LIZ BEAVERS

KEYSER, W.Va. — The Mineral County Veterans Day Parade this year will honor a Piedmont soldier who was murdered at the hands of German SS forces on the second day of the Battle of the Bulge.

In its fourth year, the parade traditionally honors a Mineral County native who has distinguished himself or herself in military service to their country.

William A. Colbert, Jr., 1920-2015

CUMBERLAND — William Augustus Colbert Jr., 95, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 1, 2015, at the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center.

Despite being in declining health over the years, Mr. Colbert would always cheerfully say, “Any better and I’d be twins…” He is now joined with his beloved wife, Vivian, who transitioned on Sept. 9, 1999.

William Colbert, Congressional Gold Medal

As detailed in the article below, on May 15, 2015 Flight Officer William Augustus Colbert, Jr. was awarded the Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal. Along with the photograph of the presentation which appeared in the newspaper, we have placed a photograph of Mr. Colbert with his great-grand-daughter, Aynia Dorsey, Miss Black Pennsylvania US Ambassador, who took part in the ceremony.

William Colbert

Though born in Annapolis, William Colbert has resided in Cumberland since 1939. In 1943, during World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Force and went on to receive his basic training in Mississippi.

William Colbert later achieved the rank of Flight Officer at the Tuskegee Army Air Field. This airfield was located on the grounds of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and was the training ground and home of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. Though alerted for overseas duty on two occasions, the war ended prior to his deployment.