Private Gerald Dixon will finally be laid to rest with proper military honors.
Private Dixon was one of 110 soldiers belonging to the 24th Infantry Buffalo Soldiers who were wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life in prison at Leavenworth for their alleged involvement in the 1917 Camp Logan Riot.
On Aug. 23, 1917, rising racial tensions erupted into violence at a training camp the Buffalo Soldiers of the 24th Infantry Regiment had been sent to guard, according to a press release. This led to the deaths of 19 people and the subsequent court-martial found 110 Black soldiers guilty, with 19 hanged.
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Although his sentence was later commuted by J. Edgar Hoover, Dixon did not receive justice during his lifetime and was buried in a private cemetery without a headstone. Now, Dixon will receive recognition and be reinterred at Marion National Cemetery with full military honors.
There will be a graveside committal service at 2 p.m. on Oct. 28 at Marion National Cemetery where Dixon will be buried alongside his wife, Francis. The ceremony, which takes place just days before Veteran’s Day, aims to be a reminder of the injustices African American soldiers faced during World War I.
Prior to the graveside service the community is invited to honor the life and legacy of Dixon during an event on Oct. 26 entitled “Buffalo Soldiers of the 24th: Camp Logan Riots and Marion’s Own Private Gerald Dixon.” Hosted at the Walton Performing Arts Center at Marion High School, 750 W. 26th St., Marion, IN, the event will feature guest speakers and a documentary screening about the history of the Buffalo Soldiers and Camp Logan Riot.
For more information, contact Mallorie KM Berger, MSc (Military Service Recognition Advocate) at 305-323-1467.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
