BUFFALO, N.Y. — Ronal Bassham is now 90 years old. He's a friendly and likeable man who loves to talk and tell a good joke, but his favorite subject is the African-American Veterans Monument on Buffalo's waterfront.
Bassham is considered part of the greatest generation, a veteran who visited 12 countries and saw three tours in Vietnam, and was involved in the Korean War as well.
As a chat starts along Buffalo's waterfront, Bassham was proud to say he is also a recipient of the Bronze Star.
"That's about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, knowing how to duck and hide," Bassham said. "I was in one of the biggest battles of Vietnam."
Asked what it was like to see live combat, in one of the deadliest wars ever, he said, "It was scary as hell, excuse my French. Anyone that says they were not scared, don't believe them. You just want to get all the guys around you back home."
The military has a checkered past when it comes to the treatment of our Black warriors. Every soldier has a memory of what it was like for them, and Bassham is no different.
"You have mixed emotions because they lied. First lie, you get your freedom, and you never get it ... neither the 40 acres or the mule," Bassham said.
African-Americans contributed greatly to the many successes on the battle field, oftentimes not getting any credit or medals because of racial tensions in the homeland. Bassham said many people were never recognized.
"World War II put a ceiling on decorations for African-Americans, we were just written out of history, didn't count anything we did, we didn't get credit for much," Bassham said. "That's what this monument is all about, to give honor we were denied for services we gave here."
This monument, Bassham said, means everything to him.
"It's finally the recognition African-Americans deserved," he said.
Robin Hodges is a Navy veteran who served more than two decades. She's now the chief operations and impact officer for the monument.
"If it were not for veterans — all veterans, especially African-American veterans, as we stand here today — we would not be able to do what we do today," Hodges said. "I'm very proud to have served my country."
The tall black pillars each represent one of the 12 wars African-Americans fought in, from the Revolutionary War to Afghanistan, wars that Bassham hopes the youth of this country learn about here at the monument, with a hands-on experience.