On February 28, 2018, The State Port Pilot (Southport) published a story ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ served in the Great War about Brunswick County’s WWI Buffalo Soldiers.
WWI Profiles had been featured on this website about the three Brunswick County African American men who were wounded or died while serving with the 92nd Division “Buffalo Soldiers”:
Pvt William Frederick Brooks (Died of Disease),
Pfc William James Gordon (Wounded), and
Pvt Robert Bollie Stanley (Wounded, POW).
While reading the final words in The Pilot (shown below) about Private Robert Bollie Stanley, Brunswick County’s only known WWI Prisoner of War who also lost most of his right leg, donor Allen Dunstan was inspired to come forward and offer to honor the soldier.
“No one requested a military headstone, so this brave soldier’s sacrifice for his nation is not readily apparent.”
Allen contacted The State Port Pilot and requested information about the Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range. Eventually, he was able to share the story of how he came to be in Southport and what inspired him to make the donation.
“I arrived in Southport 5 years ago and a romance was kindled. I had never heard of Southport before I came to work at the Duke Energy power plant. Noticing a modest cross-hatch on the roadmap, and that it was near the plant, I decided to check out the area. Seeing the quaint town and waterfront, it was no decision to remain in Southport.
“Exploring the town and surrounding area, I had visited the two cemeteries in town plus the one near Old Brunswick Town. The markers tell a lot more than simply what’s written on them.
“When I read the ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ article in The State Port Pilot, I was touched by the sentence, ‘No one requested a military headstone, so this brave soldier’s sacrifice for his nation is not readily apparent.’ He remains unknown but to God.
“On the one hand, I hope we as a nation never learn the identities of the interred unknown soldiers. They must remain unknown but to God, and thereby provide a measure of hope and comfort to many families in that these tombs could be the final resting places of their loved ones. On the other hand, the resting place for Robert Bollie Stanley is known and I thought it would be an encouragement to his family to have his service recognized.”
The Stanley Cemetery (photo above) is now surrounded by the Brierwood Golf Course.
The Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range reached out to identify the owners of the cemetery as well as locate a descendant for permission. Findagrave photos shown above are courtesy of Marcus Stanley (unrelated) who suggested we contact Joe Stanley for help. Joe Stanley (also unrelated), assisted in finding Pvt Stanley’s grandson because the last remaining survivor, Pvt Stanley’s daughter, had just passed away. We thank everyone for their help.
The permissions have now been received, and the military flat marker ordered and paid for by Allen Dunstan. Installation and dedication is planned for May 7, 2019, at 11:00am.
Thank you, Allen, for your thoughtfulness in honoring Pvt Stanley’s sacrifice!
ROBERT B STANLEY
PVT 365 INFANTRY
92 DIVISION “BUFFALO SOLDIERS”
WORLD WAR I
NOV 6 1894 SEPT 22 1961
PURPLE HEART & EX-POW
Note: The three soldiers listed above were casualties while serving with the Buffalo Soldiers in WWI. Four additional men from Brunswick County have been identified as serving in the infantry for the Buffalo Soldiers. Their names are listed on the 92nd Division rosters.
The Brunswick Beacon also featured the Buffalo Soldiers in their March 1, 2018 issue.
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