More than 150 neighbors, veterans and local dignitaries packed the New Tampa Recreation Center on June 30 to honor a man who served as a combat medic in World War II, survived enemy fire in Italy and still does pushups at 103.
Roy Caldwood, a Bronze Star recipient and member of the U.S. Army's 92nd Infantry Division (the Buffalo Soldiers), turns 104 on July 10. The early birthday celebration, organized by District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera, doubled as a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
"Without Roy, there would not have been a Remo Butler. I stand on his shoulders," said retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Remo Butler, a New Tampa resident whom Viera introduced as the first Black Special Forces officer to reach the rank of brigadier general. "Roy and I sit around and chit-chat and he tells me stories from World War II and you know what's changed? Not a lot."
Caldwood was born July 10, 1922, in New York City and grew up in Harlem. In 1943, after reading about the 92nd Regiment in Stars and Stripes, he requested to join the Buffalo Soldiers. He deployed to Italy as a combat medic, came under enemy fire numerous times, suffered injuries and was present with soldiers dying on the battlefield. He earned the Bronze Star for that service.
After returning home in 1946, Caldwood married — a 77-year marriage — and became an assistant deputy warden at Rikers Island prison. He moved to the Grand Hampton community in New Tampa about five and a half years ago after his daughter Diane Royer and her husband convinced him to relocate from New York.
Royer told the crowd her father had kept his Buffalo Soldier history quiet for decades. It was only after going through boxes of his belongings during the move to Florida that she discovered photographs and memorabilia from his service.
The ceremony drew a roster of officials. Tampa Fire Rescue Chief Barbara Tripp presented Caldwood with a plaque recognizing his service as a combat medic. Col. DJ Reyes, deputy executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, presented him with a special coin on behalf of the state's 1.4 million veterans. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott sent a letter, read aloud by regional director Luis Laracuente, congratulating Caldwood on his birthday and thanking him for his service.
Tampa Police Department Maj. Whitney McCormick, Hillsborough County Clerk of the Court Victor Crist and Col. Jim Fletcher, former president of Tampa's Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 787, also attended.
Caldwood has become a local fixture since moving to Florida. He has been featured in Tampa's Gasparilla parade, and attendees noted he still dances at events. The New Tampa Recreation Center, located in Tampa Palms just south of the Wesley Chapel border, hosted the event through the city of Tampa's Parks and Recreation Department.
At the close of the ceremony, the Tampa Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club gave Caldwood their cross-armed salute, ending with "It's all good!"
