Henry Alvin Cameron facts for kids
Henry Alvin Cameron (born February 4, 1872 – died October 30, 1918) was an American schoolteacher. He became an officer in the United States Army during World War I. Before joining the army at age 45, he taught science and coached sports at Pearl High School in Nashville, Tennessee. He was a strong supporter of education. During the war, he served in France and bravely died in the Battle of the Argonne Forest.
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Early Life and Education
Henry Alvin Cameron was born in Nashville, Tennessee on February 4, 1872. His parents were Walter and Jane Bentley Cameron. We know his birth date from old census records and a story he wrote about himself.
He graduated in 1892 from Meigs High School in East Nashville. This was the first public high school for black students in Nashville. In 1896, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fisk University. A year later, he started teaching science at Pearl High School in Nashville. In 1898, he also earned a law degree from Central Tennessee College. This college was for black students and is now where Cameron School stands. On June 5, 1899, he married his high school sweetheart, Louise S. Brien.
Teacher and Community Leader
Mr. Cameron loved sports! He became the first basketball and baseball coach at Pearl High School. He also helped his community in many ways. He was the President of the Middle Tennessee Teacher's Association. He was also the Secretary of the Tennessee Aid Association.
He was a member of the Nashville Teacher's Literary and Benefit Association. He was also a high-ranking member of the Masons and the Knights of Pythias. He even led the Capital City Baseball League. This was a local baseball league in Nashville with eight teams.
Military Service in World War I
In April 1917, the United States decided to join World War I in Europe. Henry Cameron, who was 45 years old, took a break from teaching in June 1917 to help with the war. On October 15, 1917, he became a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He trained at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. This camp was specially set up to train black officers for the war.
On June 10, 1918, Lieutenant Cameron sailed to France. He was assigned to Company M, 365th Infantry Regiment. This regiment was part of the 92nd Division. This was one of three black infantry divisions fighting in the war. For some reason, his name was listed as Alvin H. Cameron in his army records instead of Henry A. Cameron.
As an officer, he was a very careful and skilled leader. He always cared about the safety of his soldiers. His unit won many battles against the German army. They faced tough challenges, including unfair treatment from some of their own U.S. Army leaders.
On October 30, 1918, Lieutenant Cameron was killed in action. This happened during the Battle of the Argonne Forest in France. It was one of the deadliest battles of the war. He was on a scout patrol with his unit when he died. He was the first of only three black officers from Tennessee in World War I to die. His body was not brought back to Nashville. He is buried in France at the St. Mihiel American Cemetery in Thiaucourt.
Honors and Awards
After his death, Henry Cameron received several medals for his bravery in World War I. These included:
- The Croix de Guerre (awarded by France)
- The Meuse-Argonne with St. Die defensive clasps
- The World War I Victory Medal with battle clasps
- The Purple Heart
In 1919, a year later, many American Legion posts were created across the U.S. The Henry A. Cameron Post 6 was started in Nashville, Tennessee, to honor him. This was one of the first American Legion posts named after an African American. It is still active today! Also, on November 26, 1928, the Nashville City School Board named Cameron School after him. A large photo of Henry Cameron now hangs in the lobby of Cameron School.
