California Commander Charlie Eskridge greets and speaks to as many delegates as possible during the American Legion National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, August 2006. (Photo: Dept. Historian Henry Hosea)
As we finish Black History Month, here’s a pop quiz for the membership of the California American Legion:
Who was the first African-American commander of the Department of California, and when did he/she serve?
During the state convention of 2006, the American Legion Department of California was about to make its own history by electing the first Black commander since the veteran service organization was established in 1919.
This was not without any bumps in the road. It was known during the previous year that an African-American from American Legion Post 694 in Marina, California, had been campaigning and there were many who didn’t want him elected.
At the convention, after Comrade Charlie M. Eskridge was nominated, there was a concerted effort by some Legionnaires who were determined that there would not, nor never be, a Black commander in California. Another Legionnaire was nominated to run against Eskridge. This new contender’s platform was meant to ensure that a White commander would serve. Everyone was on pins and needles until the vote was taken on a Sunday, and it was announced that Charlie had won.
Right overtook wrong, and the best individual won for the betterment of California.
But who was this Legionnaire?
Charles Morris Eskridge was born on Sept. 4, 1932, in Duck Hill, Mississippi. During his 20s, he had enlisted in the United States Army as a Medic and served for 30 years (including at least one tour in Vietnam), before retiring at the rank of sergeant major, with honors in 1983. He was then separated from his last duty station at FortOrd, California, and soon after was employed by the U.S. Postal Service. He retired from that profession as a Supervisor in 1999. Eskridge joined Post 694 and held several positions as post chaplain, post commander, and District 28 commander.
In 1987, Eskridge was an original member of Veterans who started the process to request a Veteran Cemetery at Fort Ord while it was still an active base. He was a founding member of the Central Coast State Veteran Cemetery Corporation, which was formed in 2002, and served as president until his death.
All ethnic and minority Legionaries in California owe this man a debt of gratitude for his tireless work and abilities to open doors that many have had the opportunity to go through.
Next year, during the month of February, please remember our first African-American Department commander, Charlie M. Eskridge.
Hugh Crooks is chairman of the American Legion Department of California Finance Commission and served as the second Black California Department commander in 2011-12.
