1. William McBryar was a Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Cherry Creek Campaign in Arizona Territory.
18 Facts About William McBryar
1. 2.
William McBryar was born February 14,1861, in Elizabethtown, North Carolina to Rose Black.
3.
William McBryar wrote that he studied "Latin and Spanish" and was able to speak Spanish.
4.
William McBryar left college one year prior to graduating and moved to New York City.
5.
William McBryar enlisted in the 10th Cavalry on January 3,1887, for a period of five years and requested assignment on the frontier.
6.
William McBryar reenlisted in the 25th Infantry and was deployed to the Spanish American War, serving with distinction at the Battle of El Caney, Cuba.
7.
William McBryar was sworn in as a first lieutenant in the 8th US Volunteer Infantry September 22,1898, at Fort Thomas, Kentucky.
8.
William McBryar got the medal of honor for gallantry in action against the Apaches March 8,1890, and that and his gallantry at San Juan, secured him his present commission.
9.
William McBryar has hardly served long enough as a commissioned officer to reimburse him for his outfit, but the trouble is that we have a number of similar applications, and the few remaining immune regiments will not afford vacancies enough for more than one or two, and they are likely to be mustered out any day.
10.
William McBryar's case appears certainly to be as deserving as any, but the best, that can be done is to keep him on the waiting list until a vacancy occurs, and then resubmit the case.
11.
William McBryar was mustered out with his unit on June 1,1900, at Presidio, California.
12.
William McBryar was discharged from the 9th Cavalry to accept a position in the US Civil Service.
13.
William McBryar worked as a watchman at the Arlington National Cemetery in 1909.
14.
William McBryar began working for the Federal Penitentiary Service at the federal prison on McNeil Island in Washington state on March 20,1914.
15.
William McBryar graduated in 1934 at the age of 73 from Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial Teachers College, a land grant and historically black college, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture.
16.
William McBryar died at age 80 at Mercy Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania of cerebral thrombosis with arteriosclerosis as a contributory cause.
17.
William McBryar was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.
18.
Three portraits of William McBryar are known to exist, an oil wash by artist Jon Kardamis, an oil painting by Samuel Dunson, and a drawing William McBryar on horseback by Brandon Van Leer.