Harold G. Smith was drafted into the U.S. Army, commissioned as a Lieutenant, and assigned to the Buffalo Soldiers of the 92nd Infantry. At that time, the army had a protocol; they assigned white officers, mostly from the south, to command the black (colored) troops in segregated units. Smith is white, but he’s not from the south. He was born and raised in upstate New York. That meant he brought a different perspective. In this interview, Smith shares his recollections of that time. After the war, Smith returned to the states. He was recalled to duty for the Korean War and eventually retired from the army with the rank of Major.
After watching the interview, make sure to check out the collection of photos of some of the items that Smith has meticulously maintained in his foot locker. He’s kept almost everything from his time with the 92nd and his memorabilia tells a story of its own!
