Youngstown program honors black veterans

‘It’s hard for me to imagine that African-Americans had to fight to be allowed to fight,’ a brigadier
general said.

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

COITSVILLE — “I can look back now and think, yes, I was on the Red Ball Express. But it was terrible. Where we were, I wouldn’t want anybody else to go,” said James D. Rookard, who was honored at a Veterans Day program at VFW Donald Lockett Post 6488.

“We were young and scared and 4,000 miles from home,” said Rookard, of Cleveland, a driver on the Army’s Red Ball Express during World War II.

The tribute to Rookard and the Red Ball Express is part of an ongoing effort by Post 6488 to raise awareness about the contributions of blacks in the nation’s military, and the adversity and racial prejudice they had to overcome in doing so. Herman Adams was chairman of Monday’s program.

The Red Ball Express was a supply line from Normandy in France to the front lines in Europe that is considered instrumental in the defeat of the German army. It was called the Red Ball Express because the route was marked with signs with red balls on them.

Some 75 percent of the drivers were black soldiers recruited from noncombat units. At the time, blacks were not permitted in combat units.

The Express began operation Aug. 21, 1944, and existed for 82 days. Rookard, then 19, and thousands of others like him, drove round-the-clock to deliver 412,000 tons of food, ammunition, fuel and other materials to the front lines.

Rookard received proclamations and tributes from the U.S. House of Representatives, presented by a representative of U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th; Youngstown City Council; Mahoning County Board of Commissioners; and the Ohio Senate, among others.

The proclamation from the Ohio Senate, presented to Rookard by the Rev. Nicholas Boccieri on behalf of his son, Rep. John Boccieri, of New Middletown, D-33rd, read in part:

“You showed great courage dodging bullets, but you also had to battle racism in the ranks. Thank you for the service you and all veterans have given their country.”

The younger Boccieri is a pilot with the 910th Airlift Wing at the Youngstown Air Force Reserve Station in Vienna.

“It’s hard for me to imagine that African-Americans had to fight to be allowed to fight,” said Brig. Gen. Matthew L. Kambic, main speaker at Post 6488’s Veterans Day program.

“Your service to the nation and the challenges you faced paved the way for others. I am humbled to be here. I say, well done sir,” Kambic said to Rookard.

Kambic, assistant adjutant general for the Ohio Army National Guard, grew up in Girard and graduated from Youngstown State University.

“Today we pause to honor all veterans, past, present and future. The people we have serving around the world display the warrior spirit and compassion that is typical of American soldiers. They will be the next ‘greatest generation,’” Kambic said.

Rookard, now 83, for years hosted a reunion of Red Ball Express drivers at his home in Cleveland. A technician 5th grade when he got out of the Army in 1946, he became a Cleveland city truck driver, a job from which he retired in 1986. He and his wife, Mary, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in January 2008. They have two sons.

Others who participated in the program: Vincent Thomas, 6488 senior vice commander; Lloyd Mims Sr.; Sandra Smith-Graves, president of Post 6488 Ladies Auxiliary; Earl McAlway, master of ceremonies; and the Rev. Lawrence Thomas, who presented the invocation.

Henry Clarett Jr. and Mims, who are both past post commanders, laid a wreath at the base of the flagpole outside the post home in honor of veterans, and the East High School Junior ROTC Color Guard posted the colors. Color Guard members are Bernice Cintron, Tyruss Patterson, Marqui Davis and Samantha Gonzalez.

alcorn@vindy.com