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Remembering Blair County’s African American War Veterans

Sylvia Shorter Lee indicates in the 1981 article on “Black History and Heritage of Hollidaysburg that William Holliday’s son had brought an enslaved black man that participated in the Revolutionary War.  During the Civil War, a number of men fought for the USCT (United States Colored Troops).  Some of these men are buried in the Union Cemetery located in Hollidaysburg’s N. Montgomery Street.  Others are buried in Eastern Light Cemetery on 10th Street and 1st Avenue in Altoona and Oak Ridge Cemetery.  One person was buried in Allegheny Furnace cemetery (where the Altoona Mirror is now located).  Others are buried in Bellwood’s Logan Valley Cemetery, Tyrone’s Grandview Cemetery, Martinsburg’s Grandview Cemetery and Canoe Creek’s Turkey Valley cemetery.

Sgt. William C. Nesbit of the 3rd Battalion of the 24th US Infantry was executed prior to the start of WWI, for his part in the “riot” that occurred in Houston, TX in 1917.  Sgt. Nesbit was the grandson of William Nesbit of Altoona, best known for his role as an Underground Railroad Conductor and President of the PA State Equal Rights League and was the nephew of Cpl. William W. Nesbit of the 54th Mass, which fought during the Civil War.  Sgt. Nesbit’s unit fought in the Philippine-American War, 1899-1902.

2nd Lt. E. George Bell of Altoona graduated from Tuskegee Army Air Flight School in 1946 and was a member of the last class that graduated from this historic field.  He served during the war as a clerk in squadron B.  Upon graduation, he was awarded his certificate by Lt. Col. George S. Roberts, one of the first 5 men who earned their wings on that field.

Sgt. Lloyd A. Smith, a Korean War U.S. Air Force veteran, was denied burial in the Alto Reste Cemetery (in Allegheny Township) in 1962, 7 years before Dr. George Walker, Sr. was denied burial in this same cemetery due to the color of their skin.  Both are buried in First Presbyterian Church’s cemetery in Hollidaysburg.  Sgt. Smith lived on Montgomery Street in Hollidaysburg.

Dr. Ronald Mallett, born in Roaring Springs, PA and attended Altoona Area High School and Penn State University (spent two years at the Altoona campus before moving on to the University Park campus) served in the United States Air Force for four years, during the Vietnam War. He returned to civilian life in 1966. This was the year that the science fiction TV series Star Trek started, in which he “quickly became immersed”. During its first season, Mallett watched the episode The City on the Edge of Forever that “involved both the theme of time travel and lost love”, and this became his favorite of the entire series.

Sgt. Melvin Curry of Altoona was a U.S. Marines and a Vietnam Veteran. He earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star Award.  He lost his life while working as an engineer for Conrail in 1988.

There are others that should be remember during this Memorial Day weekend (living and dead), who may have called Blair County home during their lifetime.  Please let that person or persons know that his/her/their sacrifice was not in vain.

hlg5

Amateur Public Historian. I call North Carolina home. My primary job is to assist first and second year students in exploring majors at a Research 1 University. My avocation is to research African American history in Blair and South Central PA.

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