Joshua Williams was the first African-American treated for his wounds in what is known today as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Ever heard of Joshua Williams?
His is an important name in the history of American Veterans.
Joshua Williams was the first African-American Veteran ever admitted to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, which is now the Dayton, Ohio, VA Medical Center.
Joshua Williams was admitted to the home in March of 1867. He lived out the remainder of his life—three more years—there. The cemetery where Joshua Williams lies is now known as the Dayton National Cemetery.
Abraham Lincoln authorized the creation of National Homes to care for disabled, injured, and sick soldiers who fought to preserve the union, including those who served with U.S. Colored Troop (USCT) regiments. The National Homes was the precursor to today's Department of Veterans Affairs, with 153 medical centers and nearly 300,000 employees who care for all Veterans.
Joshua Williams served as a private for the Union forces in the Civil War and received a serious leg wound. His military service records described him as 6 feet 1 inches tall, "copper" complexion, brown eyes, and curly hair. He was listed as "free."
Pension was $8.00 a Month
By 1869, his wound affected the entire left side of his body and doctors at the National Home classified him as totally disabled for pension purposes—which was $8.00 per month.
Approximately 180,000 African Americans served as volunteer soldiers in 163 US Colored Troops units, comprising roughly 10% of the Union Army during the Civil War. Of the 198,000 African Americans that served in the Union forces, 36,847 died.
Approximately 21,000 Union veterans were admitted to four 'homes' between 1866 and 1881, and of that number, 195 were US 'Colored' Troops.
Related links:
Dayton, Ohio Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Dayton National Cemetery
No comments:
Post a Comment