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McCaffrey to be given local honor

By Bill Hess
Herald/Review
Published on Saturday, September 13, 2008

SIERRA VISTA — A Vietnam War hero whose father served with a black division during World War II will be honored at this year’s Southwest Association of Buffalo Soldiers gala and fundraiser.

Retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey, known as the “Drug Czar” during the Clinton administration, also will be the guest speaker at the annual event on Sept. 27.<SCRIPT type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>

The association is presenting McCaffrey its annual “Spirit of the Buffalo Soldier Award” to honor both his military career and that of his father, the late Lt. Gen. William J. McCaffrey who served as the chief of staff with 92nd Infantry Division, a noted Buffalo Soldier unit that trained at Fort Huachuca from 1942 to 1943.

The Fifth Annual Gala and Fundraiser continues the association’s long-range goal of restoring the Mountain View Colored Officers Club on the Arizona fort, that was specifically constructed for black officers, then called colored officers, during World War II.

The association must raise $200,000 to do critical renovations to the old and long-abandoned facility by Sept. 30, 2009.

The old structure, which has served not only as an officers club, but also as an office building and performing arts facility, faced the wrecking ball a few years ago. Through attempts by the Southwest Association of Buffalo Soldiers, the facility was spared with an agreement with post officials, as well as the Army Corps of Engineers.

However, private funds must be raised to restore the facility and the Army Corps of Engineers has extended its deadline until next year for some work to be done.

It is estimated nearly $5 million will be needed to completely restore the building, as well as to have funds to pay for its upkeep in future years.

McCaffrey, who was born in 1942, earned two Distinguished Service Crosses, America’s second highest military decoration or combat bravery given in the Army, for service in Vietnam. Additionally he was awarded two Silver Star Medals, the nation’s third highest decoration for combat bravery and three Purple Heart Medals for wounds received during his four tours in Vietnam.

His father’s service with the 92nd Infantry Division, called the Buffalo Division, included service with the unit during combat in Italy during World War II.

After retiring, the younger McCaffrey served for five years in charge of U.S. drug policy, hence the reason for the name Drug Czar.

HERALD/REVIEW senior reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.

EVENT INFORMATION

The gala will include dinner, a silent auction, entertainment and dancing at the 6 to 11 p.m. Sept. 27 event at the Thunder Mountain Activity Centre on Fort Huachuca.

Tickets for the event are $50 per person, or a table of 10 can be obtained for $450.

Ticket reservations can be obtained by calling B.J. Holloway at 458-5733, Harlan Bradford Sr. at 458-6728, Charles Fortenberry at 417-9605 or Thomas Stoney Sr. at 378-4757. Tickets also are available at the Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce.

Checks and donations can be made payable to MVCOCRP, SWABS, P.O. Box 715, Sierra Vista AZ 85636.

For information about the gala, call Marsha Miller at 678-1677, Demetria Warren at 220-0153 or Larry Soule at 459-7653.
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