{"id":345473,"date":"2026-07-19T19:56:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T19:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/345473\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T19:56:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T19:56:12","slug":"happy-104th-birthday-roy-caldwood-happy-250th-u-s-a-neighborhood-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/345473\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy 104th Birthday, Roy Caldwood…Happy 250th, U.S.A! \u2014 Neighborhood News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Local Dignitaries Fete WWII Vet & Buffalo Soldier Roy Caldwood At New Tampa\u2019s Own Independence Day Celebration\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"District 7 Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera (below left) organized a unique event to celebrate both the 250th birthday of the United States and the 104th birthday of New Tampa resident, World War II veteran and Buffalo Soldier Roy Caldwood (center in photo above) on June 30. Among the many dignitaries on hand for the event held at the New Tampa Recreation Center in Tampa Palms were Tampa Police Department Major Whitney McCormick (to Roy\u2019s left) and Tampa Fire Rescue Chief Barbara Tripp.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0District 7 Tampa City Council member (and New Tampa resident) Luis Viera (photo below) has had a lot of great ideas during his nearly ten years on City Council, but few have ever warmed the hearts of so many people at once as the event he organized on June 30.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In order to honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Viera turned New Tampa\u2019s 4th of July celebration into a joint event also honoring the 104th birthday of a true American hero \u2014 World War II combat veteran, Buffalo Soldier and New Tampa resident Roy Caldwood.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Roy, his daughter Diane Royer and their family were on hand for the festivities, which included a sizable roster of dignitaries not only speaking\u00a0glowingly about Roy but also, in many cases, offering him presents in celebration of his birthday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In other words, if you weren\u2019t in the crowd of more than 150 people at the New Tampa Recreation Center in Tampa Palms that evening, you truly missed out on something special!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Viera opened the festivities with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence before saying, \u201cWe\u2019re here to celebrate our country\u2019s 250th birthday and the 104th birthday of a decorated World War II veteran, a gentleman who won the Bronze Star in Italy, who was a member of the 92nd U.S. Army Regiment and a Buffalo Soldier, Roy Caldwood.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"The packed house at the New Tampa Rec Center.<\/p>\n

He then introduced the dignitaries on hand, including Maj. Whitney McCormick of the Tampa Police Dept., Chief Barbara Tripp of Tampa Fire Rescue, Hillsborough County Clerk of the Court & Comptroller (and New Tampa resident) Victor Crist, regional director Luis\u00a0Laracuente of U.S. Sen. Rick Scott\u2019s office, U.S. Army Brigadier General (Ret.) and New Tampa resident Remo Butler and Col. Jim Fletcher and Col. DJ Reyes of the Tampa chapters of two veterans\u2019 organizations. He also thanked the City of Tampa\u2019s Parks & Recreation Dept. for hosting the event inside the New Tampa Rec Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Viera also introduced Roy\u2019s daughter Diane Royer, his grandson Chris Royer and his cousins Frankie and Dorothy Newton and Patsy Milner.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a country, it doesn\u2019t matter who you are, where you come from, what God you worship or what your political affiliation you have, this is our country\u2019s 250th birthday and we have to celebrate it,\u201d Viera said. \u201cAnd to me, there\u2019s no greater symbol of something that brings us together as a country like Mr. Roy Caldwood.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a gentleman who grew up in Harlem. He was born in 1922, at a time when people who were liberated as slaves were 60-70 years old.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHe lived during the time of the Great Migration, when 6 million African Americans split the south to head up north.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHe grew up during the Harlem Renaissance, when World War I veterans \u2014 including the Harlem Hell Fighters \u2014 had just returned home from combat and were in their 20s and 30s.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Roy, his daughter Diane Royer and TFR Chief Barbara Tripp.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis man has lived through our nation\u2019s history and nobody is more worth of celebration than our friend Roy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Viera then introduced Chief Tripp, who said, \u201cI just want to thank you for everything you\u2019ve done\u2026for your bravery, resilience and being part of the Buffalo Soldiers. You took a lot and that\u2019s why we\u2019re all here today. You took care of people. I can\u2019t thank you enough for being a hero to your family and to our country.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Among other gifts, Chief Tripp presented Roy with a plaque that said, \u201cIn recognition of U.S. Army PFC Roy Caldwood for his dedicated service as a combat medic in the U.S. Army 92nd Infantry Division, also known as the \u2018Buffalo Soldiers\u2019 during World War II. Your resilience & dedication to your country & community are a testament to your character & an inspiration to everyone. God bless.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Next up was Maj. McCormick, who said, \u201cI looked up what the record age is and it\u2019s 122, and I expect you to make that. Thank you for your service from the Tampa Police Dept. Dist. 2.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" Hillsborough Clerk of the Court & New Tampa resident Victor Crist.<\/p>\n

Next came Crist, who is not only the current Clerk of the Court, but who also served 18 years in the State Legislature, both House and Senate, as well as two terms on the County Commission and who founded the University Area Community Development Corp.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Crist said, \u201cToday\u2019s a very special day and I\u2019m honored to be here. Growing up in a military family, I truly appreciate the men and women who have sacrificed their lives on behalf of our country and our lifestyle, so we can be free. So often, people take for granted what we have here and don\u2019t truly understand or appreciate the sacrifices that you and others like you have made. I want to sincerely thank you for all that you have done for us in this country, in this world and this community. I\u2019m so proud to have you as a neighbor and a friend. And I look forward to another hundred-plus years.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Viera then took the time to introduce several people in the audience who are running for political offices, including County Commission candidate Aileen Rodriguez, Louie Aguila and\u00a0Sara Peacock (who are running against each other for Circuit Court Judge) and New Tampa residents Morris Lopez and Alan Cohn, who will vie for Viera\u2019s soon-to-be-vacated seat on City Council. Also speaking at the event was Dist. 5 City Council member Naya Young, who, like Chief Tripp and Crist before her, also mentioned that she\u2019s seen videos of how impressive Roy\u2019s dance skills are and how much she appreciated Viera\u2019s invitation to attend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Then, Laracuente mentioned Roy\u2019s penchant for doing pushups before reading a letter from his boss, Sen. Scott:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cDear Mr. Caldwood: Congratulations on your 104th birthday. You\u2019re among a special segment of our population known as centenarians. That is a tremendous accomplishment. As Floridians, we feel a deep sense of appreciation for your leadership of our elder population. As Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, I am proud to represent Florida\u2019s centenarian community. As a Navy veteran myself and the son of a World War II veteran, I know firsthand the sacrifices our veterans, military members and their families make to defend our freedom. Veterans of our Armed Forces truly represent the best of what it means to be an American and a Floridian. None of the opportunities and freedoms we have as Americans would be possible without the dedicated service of our brave heroes. Again, congratulations on your 104th birthday and thank you for your service & sacrifice on behalf of this great nation. You served honorably and bravely. And, after receiving the Bronze Star and being a Buffalo Soldier, you truly represent the best of what it means to be an American & a Floridian. May this be a special time of celebration and recalling family and friends and looking forward to many years. \u2014 Sincerely, Rick Scott, U.S. Senator\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"(l.-r.) Mylitta Butler, Gen Remo Butler, Roy & Diane.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Next, Viera introduced Gen. Butler, who was commissioned in the U.S. Army in 1974, towards the end of the Vietnam era.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cGen. Butler served almost 30 years in the Army,\u201d Viera said, \u201cand became the first Black Special Forces officer to earn the rank of Brigadier General in American history. He served in Special Forces and Special Operations Command.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be here to celebrate Roy\u2019s birthday,\u201d Gen. Butler said. \u201cI\u2019m a history nut.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Without Roy, there would not have been a Remo Butler. I stand on his shoulders. People don\u2019t realize the impact of the Black soldier. The first person killed in the Revolutionary War was Crispus Attucks, a Black man. Many Black slaves fought in the Revolutionary War. They fought for their freedom, but after the war was over, they [were told], \u2018You need to go back.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the Civil War, they wouldn\u2019t take Blacks in. Why? \u2018Aww, they won\u2019t fight. They can\u2019t think fast. But they fought. I can\u2019t tell you how many Medals of Honor were won by Black soldiers during the Civil War, but there were quite a few.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote a paper [that looked into] the Army War College (AWC), one of the most prestigious schools the military has. [The AWC] did a 1930 study on Blacks in the military. You know what they said? The same thing \u2014 \u2018Blacks won\u2019t fight.\u2019 This came from educated officers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBut let me tell you something. World War II came and things started getting dicey, so they said, \u2018Let\u2019s bring them in. And, the Harlem Hell Fighters have the longest continuous time fighting in any unit.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cRoy and I sit around and chit-chat and he tells me stories from World War II and you know what\u2019s changed? Not a lot. You still have people out there to this day who have preconceived notions of what Black people can and can\u2019t do.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cLike the late, great James Brown said, \u2018Open the door and I\u2019ll get it myself.\u2019 Well, Roy, I want to thank you for opening the door for me.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great to see all these people here to celebrate this veteran, 104 years old and he walks better than I do. He can do more pushups than I can, and I respect him for that. So Roy, happy birthday. I got your present. It\u2019s liquid and I\u2019ll bring it over to your house.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The next speaker was retired U.S. Army Col. Jim Fletcher, the former president of Tampa\u2019s Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 787, who served almost 30 years in the Army, including in Vietnam, the Gulf War and numerous other conflicts. He also is a senior mentor of\u00a0Hillsborough\u2019s Veterans Treatment Court.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI am also honored to be here,\u201d Col. Fletcher said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m most proud of all the veterans who are here. It speaks of what we mean to each other and what [you mean to us], Roy. And I love you for all that you are and all that you did. I was most impressed when I went through your bio and saw how, when you were in Italy, you reached out to the community [there].\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Special Forces, we understand how important that is and what it means to be with those people and for them to realize that you were there on their behalf.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Col. Fletcher then took over the introduction of his fellow retired Army Col. DJ Reyes, who was appointed by Gov. DeSantis to be the Deputy Executive Director of the Florida Dept. of Veterans Affairs. \u201cCol. Reyes is a Korean War veteran who served 33 years in the Army. He is the leader of the Florida Mentor Program in the 13th Judicial Circuit, the Veterans Treatment Court, a proud father of special needs children, a Lightning Community Hero and an inductee in the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"The Tampa Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club salutes Roy.<\/p>\n

Col. Reyes said to Roy, \u201cLuis told me about your birthday celebration and I listened intently to the General\u2019s remarks and one of the things that stood out. And, that is, there are a lot of people who have stood on your shoulders to get to where they are today. On behalf of the 1.4 million veterans who stand on your shoulders, I\u2019d like to present you with a special coin from the Florida Dept. of Veterans Affairs.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

A group from the Tampa Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club then told Roy they were very proud to even be able to be called Buffalo Soldiers and that, \u201cbecause of you, we are proud to wear our colors in representation of you.\u201d The group then gave Roy the club\u2019s cross-armed salute that ended with, \u201cIt\u2019s all good!,\u201d and joined Col. Fletcher and Col. Reyes in each giving Roy their own commemorative coin.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thoughts About Roy & Our Country\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before introducing Roy\u2019s daughter Diane, Luis gave the following thoughts from his heart:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I think about our country being founded 250 years ago, we don\u2019t think about the words of a 33-year-old attorney who wrote, \u2018We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,\u2019 but at that time, it was all white men with property who were created equal. Generation by generation, more and more Americans will be included under that branch of equality, freedom, liberty and justice. That\u2019s the American journey that started 250 years ago, that started with the aspirations of that Declaration.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cRoy Caldwood\u2019s life is a real reflection of that journey and where we are today as Americans, having been born about 100 years after Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the same day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 1943, Roy signed up for the U.S. Army. One day, he was reading Stars & Stripes about the 92nd Regiment and said \u2018I want to be a Buffalo Soldier. I want to go into combat.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHe would go to Italy, where he would earn the Bronze Star serving as an Army medic. He came under enemy fire numerous times and suffered injuries. He would give Last Rites to soldiers who were dying on the battlefield.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, in 1946, Roy would put down his arms and come home and get married for 77 years. He also became an assistant warden at Riker\u2019s Island prison.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had stood up for the values of his fellow Americans overseas against the Nazis and then, here at home against injustice and racism. A truly great American. Mr. Roy Caldwood.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

His daughter Diane said, \u201cThis is all quite overwhelming and a moving outpouring of love for my Dad, whom I affectionately call \u2018Poppi.\u2019 He has a lot of other names, too \u2014 deal-breaker, rabble rouser, Harlem Cotton Club dancer \u2014 you name it, I think he\u2019s done it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank Councilman Viera. You are absolutely amazing. And, General Butler and his wife for coming out. From the time we first met you \u2014 thanks to Luis \u2014 we\u2019ve bonded, like you\u2019ve known Roy your whole life. Thank you so much for your friendship and who you are.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cA little about my Dad. My husband and I moved him down here, kicking and screaming, from New York about five-and-a-half years ago. He was a die-hard New Yorker who said, \u2018I\u2019m not moving to Florida,\u2019 but we finally convinced him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHis time here has created a whole new chapter of life for him and put a spotlight on his service because, prior to coming down here, I knew nothing of his life as a Buffalo Soldier. He kept it very quiet. It was only with moving and actually going through boxes of his things that I discovered a lot of pictures and memorabilia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And then\u2026Tampa, you guys just opened your hearts and arms to him. You put him in the Gasparilla parade. You name it, he\u2019s been in it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, one of the things I wanted to share is one of his axioms and sort of what he lives by. He says, \u2018Whenever you see someone\u2026anyone\u2026 you make sure you figure out how to reach out and help them, whether it\u2019s something small or something big. Never turn your head or walk away.\u2019 And, I have to say, that\u2019s how he\u2019s lived his life. He\u2019s gotten into a lot of trouble doing it, but he\u2019s always wants to help somebody. And I think that\u2019s what gives him that momentum to keep him going forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s God that continues to bless him and when he does those things, God blesses him a hundred-fold. So, I just want to thank you all so much for coming out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Viera then said, \u201cLet\u2019s have some cake!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Local Dignitaries Fete WWII Vet & Buffalo Soldier Roy Caldwood At New Tampa\u2019s Own Independence Day Celebration\u00a0 District…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":345474,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[135,137,136],"class_list":["post-345473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tampa","tag-tampa","tag-tampa-headlines","tag-tampa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=345473"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345473\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/345474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=345473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=345473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=345473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}