Lewis Broadus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Captain
Lewis Broadus
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Lewis Broadus
(in The Crisis Magazine, June 1917) |
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| Birth name | Louis Cunningham |
| Nickname(s) | "Cap" |
| Born | July 24, 1877 Henrico County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | June 23, 1961 (aged 83) Jamaica, Queens, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1897–1923 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit | 25th Infantry Regiment 92nd Division |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |  Distinguished Service Cross |
| Spouse(s) |
Florence Blackwood
(m. 1897)Edith McClenny
(m. 1931) |
| Other work | Special Officer, Mount Vernon PD Alcohol Tax Division, New York City |
Captain Lewis Cunningham Broadus (1877–1961) was a brave Buffalo Soldier who served in the United States Army. He was born in Henrico County, Virginia. He served with great honor in the 25th Infantry Regiment and the 92nd Division.
Lewis Broadus was in the army from 1897 to 1923. During this time, he fought in several important conflicts. These included the Indian Wars, the Spanish–American War, the Philippine–American War, the Border War, and World War I.
He started his army journey as a Private. This is the lowest rank for a soldier. He was part of Company D, 25th Infantry Regiment. Lewis worked hard and moved up through the ranks. He eventually became a Sergeant Major, which was the highest enlisted rank in his regiment. When World War I began, he asked to become an officer. After receiving special praise, he went to officer training. In 1917, he successfully became a Captain.
In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt gave Lewis a Certificate of Merit Medal. This award was for his "coolness, presence of mind, and bravery in saving lives of others at Fort Niobrara." Later, this medal was changed. First, it became the Distinguished Service Medal in 1918. Then, in 1934, it was changed again to the Distinguished Service Cross. This is a very high award for bravery.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Lewis Broadus was born on July 24, 1877, in Richmond, Virginia. His birth name was Louis Cunningham. His father was Louis Cunningham and his mother was an enslaved African woman named Lizzie. In 1880, he was listed in the U.S. Census as Louis Cunningham, age three.
After his mother sadly passed away, he was raised by the Broadus family. They were Arthur, a stable hand, his son David, and his daughter Mary. Later, Louis changed his name to Lewis Broadus.
While he was stationed at Fort Custer, Montana, he met Florence Blackwood. She was a young Native American woman from the Lakota (Sioux) tribe. They got married. After marrying Florence, Lewis decided to make the U.S. Army his career. This meant he and his family moved often to different parts of the country. Lewis and Florence had two children, a daughter named Mabel and a son named Ernest. After Florence passed away, Lewis married Edith McClenny in 1931. They had a daughter named Elizabeth.
Military Service
After the American Civil War, the U.S. Army created four African American regiments. These were the 24th and 25th Infantry, and the 9th and 10th Cavalry. These soldiers were known as Buffalo Soldiers. In 1897, at age twenty, Lewis joined the 25th Infantry. He was sent to Fort Custer, Montana. Soon after, he went to fight in the Spanish–American War, America's first overseas conflict.
World War I Service
When the United States joined World War I, the 25th Infantry Regiment was stationed in Hawaii. They did not fight in battles there. During this time, the military grew very quickly. Many new soldiers joined, including over 350,000 African American recruits. The army needed more African American officers to train these new soldiers and lead them in battle.
Lewis saw this as a chance to become an officer. He asked for a promotion again and received special praise. A letter supported him going to officer training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. It said he was "in a high degree the type of a soldier desired there." He finished his training and became a Captain on October 15, 1917. He was then sent to Camp Funston.
During the war, Captain Broadus led a Military Police unit. This unit was part of the 317th Train Headquarters and Military Police Regiment, 92nd Division. When they arrived in France, their main job was to manage movement on the battlefield. They controlled traffic and took care of enemy prisoners of war. They did this job very well, which helped their division advance without stopping.
After the war, the 92nd Division was closed down. Lewis continued to serve in the military police, back with the 25th Infantry Regiment.
Later Life and Legacy
After his army career ended, Lewis Broadus moved to Mount Vernon, New York. He worked as a Special Officer for the Mount Vernon police department. He also worked for the Alcohol Tax Division in New York City until he retired in 1947.
By 1961, he had served his country for 26 years with an amazing military record. He was one of the last soldiers who had fought in the Spanish–American War. Lewis Broadus passed away at age 83 in a Veterans Hospital in Jamaica, New York. He had a military burial at Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, Long Island.
The Certificate of Merit Medal he received in 1906 was first changed to the Distinguished Service Medal in 1919. Then, in 1934, it was changed again to the Distinguished Service Cross. This important award was given to his family. They later gave it as a gift to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. His military papers were given to the Library of Virginia Foundation.
Awards and Decorations
- Distinguished Service Cross
- Distinguished Service Medal (Later changed to Distinguished Service Cross)
- Certificate of Merit (First awarded, then changed to Distinguished Service Medal)
- Expert Rifleman (1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1910, 1912, 1914)
- Expert Pistol Shot (1910, 1911, 1912, 1913)
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