Category Archives: Announcement

To purchase a copy of the book, please contact Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range at ftcaswellriflerange@gmail.com

The past several months have been busy ones as we prepared our tribute to Brunswick County WWI veterans.

This photograph shows the hard copy proof of our book, Brunswick County in the Great War: Preserving the 1918 Fort Caswell Rifle Range and the Legacies of the Men and Woman Who Served.

The book measures 8 1/2″ x 11″ and features 584 pages of large print, images, and photographs for easier reading.

A view of the pages with the US Army insignia and Table of Contents

The paperback price is $50 plus $6 shipping.

A hardcover version may be printed, based on demand.

Anyone interested in purchasing a copy of the book, contact
Norma Eckard at normaron@mindspring.com

Brunswick County in the Great War

WWI altered our nation and completely transformed our corner of North Carolina forever. Fort Caswell, an integral part of the national effort to become battle ready, served men and women as they became soldiers and nurses and began their journey to war.

This book is the culmination of more than 9 years of research by Dr. Norma Eckard, her daughter Amy and husband Ronald. These stories were collected and curated from local families and individuals who still carry the memories of war. Their project began as an effort to preserve the history of the recently recognized 1918 Fort Caswell Rifle Range, but it grew to also serve as a tribute to the soldiers and nurses who each had a connection to Fort Cawell. This book documents the sacrifices and triumphs that occur while serving their country during a time of war. Many of these stories have never been in print.

Brunswick County in the Great War is an important resource for anyone who loves local history. It is an accurate and colorful presentation of unbridled heroism, patriotism, and a deep love of family and nation. The spirit of these men and women still inspires us today.

Anyone interested in purchasing a copy of the book (584 pages), contact
Norma Eckard at normaron@mindspring.com

State Port Pilot news story published
July 8, 2020.

The paperback price is $50 plus $6 shipping.

A hardcover version may be printed, based on demand.

Our last Brunswick County WWI veterans have been honored.

We thank the community for the amazing support!

To see the veteran list with donors, go to the Donor page.

This list will appear in the book, Brunswick County in the Great War: Preserving the 1918 Fort Caswell Rifle Range and the Legacies of the Men and Women Who Served. If your name is listed and you would like to add your relationship to the veteran or just need to make a correction, please contact us soon, before the book is printed.

Thank you!

A recent item in Wilmington’s Star News called attention to the effort to honor the 119th and 120th Infantry of the 30th “Old Hickory” Division for breaking the Hindenburg Line on September 29, 1918, the bloodiest day in WWI for North Carolina.

Those organizing this effort hope to install a monument in France, as well as replace the small monument currently located on the grounds of the capitol in Raleigh, shown here.

If you would like to contribute to this effort, visit https://ncww1monument.org/

Our website offers a Roster of many men from Brunswick County serving in WWI, which includes the 30th Division. WWI Profiles are available for those killed or wounded.

In addition, our post 100 years ago today: The breaking of the Hindenburg Line gives more background information on the Brunswick County heroes of the 30th Division.

Thanks to Barbara Griffin for alerting us to this effort!

On February 28, 2018, The State Port Pilot (Southport) published a story ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ served in the Great War about Brunswick County’s WWI Buffalo Soldiers.

WWI Profiles had been featured on this website about the three Brunswick County African American men who were wounded or died while serving with the 92nd Division “Buffalo Soldiers”:

Pvt William Frederick Brooks (Died of Disease),
Pfc William James Gordon (Wounded), and
Pvt Robert Bollie Stanley (Wounded, POW).

While reading the final words in The Pilot (shown below) about Private Robert Bollie Stanley, Brunswick County’s only known WWI Prisoner of War who also lost most of his right leg, donor Allen Dunstan was inspired to come forward and offer to honor the soldier.

“No one requested a military headstone, so this brave soldier’s sacrifice for his nation is not readily apparent.”

Allen contacted The State Port Pilot and requested information about the Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range. Eventually, he was able to share the story of how he came to be in Southport and what inspired him to make the donation.

“I arrived in Southport 5 years ago and a romance was kindled. I had never heard of Southport before I came to work at the Duke Energy power plant. Noticing a modest cross-hatch on the roadmap, and that it was near the plant, I decided to check out the area. Seeing the quaint town and waterfront, it was no decision to remain in Southport.

“Exploring the town and surrounding area, I had visited the two cemeteries in town plus the one near Old Brunswick Town. The markers tell a lot more than simply what’s written on them.

“When I read the ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ article in The State Port Pilot, I was touched by the sentence, ‘No one requested a military headstone, so this brave soldier’s sacrifice for his nation is not readily apparent.’ He remains unknown but to God.

“On the one hand, I hope we as a nation never learn the identities of the interred unknown soldiers. They must remain unknown but to God, and thereby provide a measure of hope and comfort to many families in that these tombs could be the final resting places of their loved ones. On the other hand, the resting place for Robert Bollie Stanley is known and I thought it would be an encouragement to his family to have his service recognized.”

The Stanley Cemetery (photo above) is now surrounded by the Brierwood Golf Course.

The Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range reached out to identify the owners of the cemetery as well as locate a descendant for permission. Findagrave photos shown above are courtesy of Marcus Stanley (unrelated) who suggested we contact Joe Stanley for help. Joe Stanley (also unrelated), assisted in finding Pvt Stanley’s grandson because the last remaining survivor, Pvt Stanley’s daughter, had just passed away. We thank everyone for their help.

The permissions have now been received, and the military flat marker ordered and paid for by Allen Dunstan. Installation and dedication is planned for May 7, 2019, at 11:00am.

Thank you, Allen, for your thoughtfulness in honoring Pvt Stanley’s sacrifice!

ROBERT B STANLEY
PVT 365 INFANTRY
92 DIVISION “BUFFALO SOLDIERS”
WORLD WAR I
NOV 6 1894 SEPT 22 1961
PURPLE HEART & EX-POW

Note: The three soldiers listed above were casualties while serving with the Buffalo Soldiers in WWI. Four additional men from Brunswick County have been identified as serving in the infantry for the Buffalo Soldiers. Their names are listed on the 92nd Division rosters.

The Brunswick Beacon also featured the Buffalo Soldiers in their March 1, 2018 issue.