Created by
Smith, J. Andre, American, 1880 - 1959
Received by
Broadus, Lewis Cunningham, American, 1875 - 1960
Date
Awarded 1906; issued 2006
Medium
metal and paint
Dimensions
H x W x D (ab): 3/8 × 9/16 × 3/8 in. (0.9 × 1.5 × 0.9 cm)
H x W x D (a): 1/8 × 9/16 × 3/8 in. (0.3 × 1.5 × 0.9 cm)
H x W x D (b): 3/8 × 3/8 × 3/16 in. (0.9 × 0.9 × 0.5 cm)
Caption
Lewiston Cunningham Broadus (1875-1960) was veteran of the United States Army, who served his country with valor for over 32 years, from 1897 to 1923. As a Buffalo Soldier in the 25th Infantry, Captain Broadus was a veteran of the Indian wars, saw action in the Texas-Mexican border skirmishes, fought in the Spanish-American War with Theodore Roosevelt's "Rough Riders" at San Juan Hill, and served with Captain Young's troopers at the Presidio in San Francisco. In World War I, he fought in the 92nd Infantry with General Pershing in major European campaigns. On July 3, 1906 while Broadus was a first sergeant stationed at Fort Niobrara, NE, a disgruntled private attempted to shoot an officer who had reported him for abusive language. Broadus grabbed the rifle by the muzzle as the shot was fired, thereby protecting the officer and nearly being hit by the bullet himself. For this action, he was awarded a Certificate of Merit from President Theodore Roosevelt. The award was later converted to a Distinguished Service Cross on April 26, 1934. After lobbying efforts by the family, the Department of the Army issued the Cross to Lewis Broadus's surviving family members in 2006.
Description
Distinguished Service Cross medal pin issued to Lewis Broadus. The medal pin is gold painted into the colors of the Distinguished Service Cross medal with a large blue center and a small strip of white and red. The back of the pin has a manufacture's mark that reads, [G27 GI]. The lapel pinback is a military pin keeper, also known as a deluxe clutch. This uses a spring loaded locking mechanism to lock the pin post, it has a wide top that narrows into a smaller circle.
Place made
Tomball, Harris County, Texas, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Awards and Medals
Type
medals
Topic
Buffalo Soldiers
Military
Spanish-American War, 1898
World War I
World War II
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Lewis Broadus Family
Object number
2007.4.3ab
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5718fb5b1-0389-429e-a78f-22cec69b135a

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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