Overview

Purple Heart recipient Perry Loyd served valiantly in WWI as a sergeant in the 371st Infantry (Colored) Regiment. The men of the 371st performed as the tip of the spear during the largest battle the United States military had ever undertaken. SGT RAWHIDE explores the Jim Crow South, the U.S. entry into WWI and authentically narrates the experience of African American soldiers drafted during that time. It candidly reveals the political mindset and subsequent influence marking the beginning of the civil rights movement. Against the backdrop of the War to End All Wars, the occasional peek into Perry's life before, during, and after the war adds depth and insight into the life of a man committed to fighting for democracy abroad and back at home in the United States.

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9781685159542

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Perry W. James IV is a veteran of the US Navy and a WWI historian and reenactor. He is a 4th generation Perry in his family and has always been curious about his namesake, his grandfather, Perry Loyd II. His foray into WWI reenacting began by visiting his grandfather's gravesite in Sumter County, South Carolina. Using the military-issued headstone data to jumpstart and validate his research, Perry learned that his grandfather served valiantly as a sergeant in the 371st Infantry (Colored) Regiment during WWI. Most significantly, he discovered that Perry (SGT. RAWHIDE) Loyd was severely wounded during combat. Perry travels locally, domestically, and internationally, educating, and inspiring people by presenting his grandfather's historical accomplishments and contributions and the other men of the 371st Infantry, a highly decorated regiment of African American soldiers. He successfully planned and participated in the Ebony Doughboys Unbreakable Bonds program for the US Embassy in Brussels, Belgium. During that trip, he orchestrated a sojourn to France to visit monuments dedicated to the brave US soldiers who fought and died on the battlefields of France during WWI. The highlight was his visit to Cote 188 (Hill 188) on the 100th Anniversary Day of the severe wounding of his grandfather and the deaths of hundreds of soldiers of the 371st.A self-motivated, lifelong learner, Perry earned his electronics technology credentials from DeVry Institute of Technology and later his BA (magna cum laude) in technical management from DeVry University. A high-energy broker of relationships, alliances, and partnerships, Perry enjoyed a successful career that spanned Fortune 100 sales management, small business owner, and federal government service. Perry was born in Sumter County, South Carolina, and, now retired, he lives in Charleston, South Carolina. He is the father of four, grandfather of five and great grandfather to five girls he calls his GGGs. He and his wife, Faith, and dog named Sasha, live in Charleston, SC.

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