Edward L. Posey

by Last;Only All-Black Rangers US Army's First

  L-1. LAND, ELMORE. Elmore was a member of the replacement platoon trained and brought over by Lieutenant Anthony. He came from the 80th AAA Battalion. Elmore remained with the Company until inactivation and made Corporal before shipment to the 187th ARCT. There has not been any contact with him since then. He was living in Norfolk, VA, before he died in March 1993.

  L-2. LANIER, WILLIAM M. An original member from the Communications Platoon, Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion. Lanier had been in the wire section when Big Jim was Commo Officer. He was a veteran of WWII on an indefinite enlistment. Lanier had served twelve months overseas before volunteering for the Rangers. He was assigned duties as a Commo Sergeant. He had part of his ear shot off in the firefight at Majori-ri. He went to the 187th ARCT after inactivation and was assigned to the Regimental Commo. There has been no contact with him since Korea.

  L-3. LEARY, FRED L. Fred was a member of the replacement platoon brought over by Lieutenant Anthony. He came from the 80th AAA Battalion (things were pretty rough in that unit in about November of 1950, and a lot of men wanted to leave). Leary became part of the mortar section. Upon the unit’s inactivation he went to the 187th and was assigned to the Anti-Aircraft Battery at Camp Woods, Japan. Nothing has been heard from him since that time.

  L-4. LEE, HOSEY. Lee was one of the black-leg replacements that the Buffalo Rangers got out of the pipeline going to the 32d Infantry, 7th ID, in early April. These men were given airborne training and completed their three qualifying jumps in one day during July 1951. Lee went to the 187th ARCT upon inactivation, and no contact has been made since then. He was a Korean War draftee.

  L-5. LEGGS, RALPH JR. Ralph was one of the black-leg replacements who we got from the 31st Infantry, 7th ID in April 1951. He was a regular, in contrast to the majority of the ten, who were draftees. Leggs became a BAR gunner and had made Corporal by the time of inactivation. No contact has been made with him since that time.

  L-6. LESURE, DAVID. David was one of the original members who came from the 80th AAA. David lives in Cleveland, OH.

  L-7. LEWIS, CHARLES O. Charles was an original member. He only had nine months left on his enlistment when he volunteered. Charles made Corporal before inactivation and transfer to the 187th ARCT. There has not been any contact with him since Japan.

  L-8. LOFTON, MATTHEW JR. Matthew was an original member who came from the 80th AAA Battalion. He was on his first three-year hitch and only had eight months remaining on that enlistment. Matthew made Corporal before inactivation and assignment to the 187th ARCT. There has not been any contact with him since that time.

  L-9. LOUNDES, JOHN A. Loundes was a member of Lieutenant Anthony’s replacement platoon and came from the 80th Battalion. He remained in the 60mm mortars with Lieutenant Anthony. After the unit was inactivated he went to the Anti-Aircraft Battery of the 187th ARCT. There has not been any contact with him since that time.

  L-10. LYLES, PAUL T. Paul was one of the black-leg replacements received from the 7th ID after the Munsan-ni jump. Paul is a native Washingtonian who attended the same school as Big Jim Queen. When Lyles recognized Jim during the training, he was volunteered as a Ranger. After three months of combat with the unit, he attended a Company-run jump school in July. He qualified after making three jumps in one day, near Chechon, Korea. When the Rangers were inactivated and joined the 187th ARCT, Paul became a radio operator for the CG. After his discharge Paul worked for the Marriott Hotels System and as an independent contractor before retiring. Paul’s wife died several years ago and he remarried. He has three daughters, and his grandchildren are doing well in the music field. Paul is a supporter of RICA and 555th activities, and he frequently provides video coverage of association events.

  Mc-1. McBRIDE, CLEAVEN. A member of the replacement platoon that Lieutenant Anthony trained, he came from the 80th AAA Battalion. He was on a three-year enlistment but had spent only three months overseas and was due for discharge in December 1951. Awarded the Bronze Star. He went to the 187th upon inactivation and no contact has been made with him since that time.

  Mc-2. McLEAN, LISLIE J. Lislie was an original member who came from the 80th AAA Battalion. Lislie was a late draftee in WWII who enlisted for three years and served four months overseas. He left 2d Ranger Company before inactivation. There has not been any contact with him since Korea.

  Mc-3. McPHERSON, WILLIAM J. William was a member of the Replacement Platoon and came from Company K. William is married and lives in New York City.

  M-1. MASON, JACOB. Jacob was an original member who came from Company I. After his enlistment he moved to Alaska and lives in Anchorage.

  M-2. MATHIS, WILLIAM K. Bill Mathis was the third black-leg replacement who was volunteered for the Rangers after he recognized Big Jim Queen during training. Bill was a college track star before being drafted. The area in which he lived in Washington has been demolished, and he and his family have not been located. The rumor is that he lives somewhere in New Jersey.

  M-3. MITCHELL, GEORGE H. George was an original member. He was a veteran from WWII who was on a three-year hitch and due to get out in November 1951. He is not listed on the boat manifest of the USS General H.W. Butner, but is on the shipment orders to the 187th ARCT for inactivation on 29 July 1951. There has not been any contact with him since that time.

  M-4. MOLSON, GEORGE H. Molson was an original member. His three-year enlistment was up in September 1951 when he volunteered. He left the unit before inactivation. No contact with him has been made since that time.

  M-5. MONTE, JAMES L. Monte was an original member who came from the 80th AAA. Monte came back to the 505th AIR before taking a discharge. After being a civilian for eight months, he re-enlisted for the 11th A/B, but wound up in the field artillery. He served in the artillery in Vietnam. After 22 years of service he retired as a Master Sergeant (E-8) and went to work in the Post Office. Monte retired a second time and resides in Columbus, GA. Monte lost his wife, Mary, several years ago. Monte and Larry Estell are sidekicks, and both attend and represent RICA and 555th activities at Fort Benning.

  M-6. MOORE, KENNETH R. Kenneth was an original member and came from Company M. Kenneth was born of Canadian parents and had dual citizenship until age 21. He chose to enlist for the American Airborne forces in Port Huron, MI. Kenneth lives in Goldsboro, NC, near Fort Bragg.

  M-7. MORRIS, UTHEL. Morris was a member of the replacement platoon brought over by Lieutenant Anthony from the 80th AAA Battalion. Uthel was a voluntary enlistee from California in WWII. He was still a Private, although he had served 23 months overseas. He made Corporal before inactivation and shipment to the 187th ARCT. Uthel remained in the service and made Master Sergeant. Last contact with him was in the early 1980s, when Big Jim Queen found Uthel was working for an undertaker in San Francisco.

  M-8. MORRIS, CREW B. Crew was a member of the last training cycle and didn’t get to serve with the unit. He is active in many of the RICA and 555th activities. He resides in Chicago, IL.

  M-9. MORSE, CALVIN. Calvin came in with the Replacement Platoon from the 80th AAA. After leaving the service Calvin entered the Georgia State Police Department. He patrolled Interstate 95 for drugs. Calvin is married to Earsene and resides in Richland, GA, about 25 miles southeast of Fort Benning. Calvin is active in the RICA and 555th activities around Benning.

  M-10. MURPHY, JACK. Jack was an original member, coming from Big Jim Queen’s 75mm Recoilless Rifle Platoon in Company M. Jack was on a three-year hitch due to end in December 1950 when he volunteered for the Rangers. Jack was a big, strong, country boy who was like a li’l brother to Jim. He would do anything that was asked and was developing into an outstanding leader. Jack volunteered for a second tour in Korea and made Master Sergeant before he was killed in action there. His aunt and her husband, a retired Marine, have attended the RICA reunions in Fayetteville.

  M-11. MURRAY, JAMES Murray was an original member. He had the unusual serial number of RA 45 041 010, which indicated that he was a very late draftee in
WWII who had decided to enlist for three years. He had already served thirteen months overseas when he volunteered. Murray made Corporal before inactivation and transferred to 187th ARCT. There has been no contact with him since that time.

  N-1. NEXION, SAMUEL. Nexion was an original member. Nexion was on a three-year hitch and due for discharge in February 1951, so he was another one who got a “Truman Year” (one year’s involuntary extension) on his enlistment after he got to Korea. Nexion left before inactivation and rotation to the 187th ARCT.

  N-2. NUNLEY, JOHN E. John was a member of Lieutenant Anthony’s Replacement Platoon and came from A Battery, 80th AAA Battalion. John left the service after his enlistment and went to work in the Post Office. He lives in Okmulgee, OK. John has participated in several RICA and 555th reunions.

  O-1. OAKLEY, JAMES. Oakley was an original member of the unit and came from Company K. He was performing duty in the Officer’s BOQ and Club when he volunteered. Oakley became one of the best BAR gunners in the unit. He and Joe Oliver were like brothers. Oakley drowned when crossing a river in Korea. Oakley was loaded down with ammunition and was swept off his feet and carried downstream by the swift currents. The Rangers were unable to recover his body on that day. Contact has been made with his brother, who aided in the placement of a memorial brick at Fort Benning.

  O-2. OLIVER, JOE. Joe was an original member and came from Company L. He and Oakley were sidekicks. Joe entered the ministry after leaving the service. He settled in Texarkana, TX. Joe passed in 1997.

  P-1. PARKS, NATHAN. Nathan is now deceased, but his famous Sunday Apple Cobbler (made with salt) will never be forgotten. Nathan was the unit’s only and original Mess Sergeant, who came from the Officer’s Mess, 3d Battalion. Nathan was a golfing partner of Rigger John Ford. He was a hustler and go-getter who kept the unit kitchen operating in all conditions. He was the first Life Member in RICA and the 555th. He married Jettie, who accompanied him to all reunions. They resided in Phoenix City, AL. Nathan passed on to the great DZ in 1995.

  P-2. PAULDING, CRAIG. “Little Man” was one of the youngest original members, coming from Company K. He and Herc are tied for the record of being most hospitalized from combat. Craig re-upped and went to Germany with the 11th A/B. After leaving the service he became an American Legion Post Commander and avid pinochle card player. “Little Man” is a great supporter of RICA and 555th events. He lives in Bessemer, AL.

  P-3. PAYNE, SAMUEL JR. “Shorty” Payne was an original member who came from Company I, 2d Platoon. Shorty had attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD, before enlisting. Shorty was the shortest member of the unit, but he didn’t cut any slack on any missions. He and Big Jim teamed up to become human mine detectors for the Buffalo Rangers. Payne is married to Vinita and they have five adult children (doing the Lord’s work) and five grandchildren. They live in Baltimore. Shorty worked for Bethlehem Steel for 38 years before retiring. He is active in most of the RICA and 555th activities along the East Coast. Shorty says, “War is Hell!”

  P-4. PETERESS, JAMES JR. Peteress was an original member who came from the 80th AAA Battalion. He was another one of the Rangers on a six-year hitch and had just enlisted in January 1950. He became one of the best and most fearless BAR gunners in the Company. He was always pushing forward to get a better firing position. Peteress was one of the last KIAs. Big Jim awarded him his third Purple Heart just before his last battle.

  P-5. PLATER, JAMES M. Plater was an original member who came from the 80th AAA Battalion as a Private First Class but had made Sergeant by the time of inactivation, eight months later, as a fire team leader. He went to the 674th Artillery Battalion of the 187th ARCT at Camp Woods, Japan. Plater later moved back to Philadelphia, PA, where he died in November 1997.

  P-6. POPE, JAMES J. Pope was a member of Lieutenant Anthony’s replacement platoon who came from the 80th AAA Battalion. He was a draftee and veteran of WWII who had already served ten months overseas. He, too, was on a six-year hitch. Upon inactivation he went to the 187th ARCT, but no contact has been made with him since that time.

  P-7. POSEY, EDWARD L. Ed was an original member who came from Company I. In June 1951, up near the Kansas Line, although wounded by grenade fragments while leading his squad against enemy fortifications, he led an advance on the enemy stronghold that routed the enemy from its position. He served a second tour of duty in Korea during which he was assigned to Company L, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, on Pork Chop Hill. In addition to his combat tours in Korea he served in the Dominican Republic and Vietnam. After 21 years of distinguished military service he worked his way up from a position as a correctional officer to Assistant Warden of Leavenworth Prison. Since his retirement from the U.S. Department of Justice he has performed special missions for the State Department in several different countries. In 2002 he was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame for his dedication to duty and distinguished military career. The 555th PIA Chapter in Baton Rouge, LA, is named for him. He is married to Mary Ann and has a daughter, Denise. They live in Fayetteville, NC.

  P-8. PRYOR, BERNARD B. Bernie, the original First Platoon leader, was from Company K. Bernie received the Silver Star Award and the Purple Heart for the firefight at Majori-ri on 14 January 1951. Bernie was famous for his Cadillac cars and paramour escapades. He was First Sergeant in an Engineer Unit in the CBI Theater during WWII and he attended OCS afterwards. Bernie rotated to the 188th AIR, 11th A/B Division at Fort Campbell, KY. He was one of the few black captains retained in the 11th A/B when the division was reorganized at ROTAD in Germany. After retirement from the service as a Major he attended Pepperdine University to obtain a Ph.D. in Political Science. Bernie married Irma while in Germany and they had two daughters. The family settled in Topeka, KS, near Fort Riley. Bernie taught at and became Dean of Students of Baltimore City College before he died in 1988.

  Q-1. QUEEN, JAMES C. “Big Jim” (also called “Mother” because he took care of so many from the Company) was the original and only XO. He came from Company M, as the Recoilless Rifle Platoon Leader. Jim received the Silver Star for bravery in the battle for Hill 581 in May 1951. Jim remained in the service until he was medically retired while in the 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg. He just missed being cut back to Master Sergeant in the RIF of 1957. After the 11th A/B was inactivated in Germany, he was sent to the 32d Signal Battalion, VII Corps, as a motor officer. He is married to Phyllis, with whom he had seven children, fifteen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. They reside in Washington, D.C., and both are retired from the D.C. public school system. In 1994 Big Jim became the first black Ranger inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame.

  R-1. RANKINS, GEORGE. George was an original member who came from Company I. George received the Silver Star for action in the Battle for Hill 581 in May 1951. George served two tours in Korea. He remained in the service for more than twenty years and retired at Fort Lewis, WA, as a First Sergeant. He started a new career in the Urban League of Portland, OR, where he began a mini-crusade to obtain jobs for African Americans in new areas as ironworkers, operating engineers, electricians, and within the airline industry. Later he dabbled in TV before going on to break “color barriers” in commercial film, collegiate football officiating, and national horseracing officiating. George married Dianne and has a daughter who is a Captain in Army Intelligence. In spite of his busy traveling schedule George is still very active in RICA or 555th activities. He currently resides in Lincoln City, OR.

  R-2. REESE, EARNEST. Ernie was a member of the Replacement Platoon. He married while stationed in Germany and settled in Hanau, Germany. It is believed but not confirmed that he did not come back stateside before his death in 1996.

  R-3. REMBERT, HERMAN L. Rembert was an original member. He was a member of the 1st Platoon when he was KIA in the firefight at Majori-ri Village on 14 January 1951. Rembert was on a three-year hitch, having just enlisted in April 1950.

  R-4. RHODES, WILLIAM. “Thin Man” was an original member a
nd came from the 80th AAA. In the firefight at Majori-ri on 14 January 1951 he was cut off. He was hidden by an old Korean family and recovered by a patrol the next day. He was a very close sidekick of Herc. Whenever you saw one at a reunion, the other was very close by. Thin Man married Michelle and settled in Bridgeport, CT. He died in 1996. Thin Man seldom talked about his ordeal of being cut off, but he was a delight to be with.

  R-5. RHONE, RAY, SR. Ray was an original member and came from Company M. After leaving the service he worked in the Post Office until his retirement. He married Marcia and had a family, and they live in Chicago, IL. Ray attends and frequently supports the RICA and 555th activities.

  R-6. RIDELL, WILLIAM H. L., JR. Ridell was one of the few black-leg replacements that General Ferenbaugh allowed to volunteer to join us after training. Ridell was a Korean War draftee. Ridell served in combat with the unit for three months before he went to a Company-level jump school. He made three qualifying jumps in one day from a C-119 aircraft at the Chechon airfield. Ridell went to the 187th ARCT upon inactivation, but no contact has been made with him since.

  R-7. ROBERTSON, SMEAD H. “Cowboy” earned that nickname from his interview by a Stars & Stripes reporter after the Tanyang firefight. Smead was an original member who came from Company M, where he was the Company clerk. He remained as 2d Ranger Company clerk until he was promoted to Sergeant and moved to the 3d Platoon as a squad leader. Smead was married and moved to Los Angeles, CA. Smead is famous for telephoning at very odd hours. He attended the 555th meeting in L.A. with Herman “Cat Eyes” Jackson.

  R-8. RUSSO, JOE. Joe is our Associate Ranger from the 15th AAA Battalion, 7th ID, who was sent over to provide medical coverage during the late spring of 1951. Joe went on to become a paratrooper. He is married and is a member of the North New Jersey Chapter, 101st A/B Division. The Buffalo Rangers conducted an initiation ceremony for Joe at the 101st’s meeting in the winter of 1995. Joe provided some art for this book, and members of the original 2d Ranger Company were proud and honored to welcome him into the Buffalo herd.