"William Harvey Carney"(February 29,1940-December 8,1908

Was born in a slave in Norfolk,Virginia.His father William Sr.had escaped through the

underground railroad and eventually earned enough money to buy to buy the freedom of his wife and son.After freeing his family,the reunited Carney's moved New Bedford Massachusetts.William Carney Jr.had intended to pursue ecclesiastical training with the intentions of becoming a minister.Instead of following the call to preach he decided to enlist in the Union Army 1863,following the Emancipation Proclamation which for the first time in the Civil War officially authorized the recruitment of black soldiers.Recruited out of New Bedford,William joined the soon to be famous 54thMassachusetts Infantry Regiment commanded by 26-year old Colonel Robert Gould Shaw,the son of a wealthy Boston abolitionist.William soon rose to the rank of sergeant due to his education and strong potential to lead others.During the summer of 1863 the 54th Massachusetts was sent to James Island,South Carolina,where the unit saw its combat.After two days of sleep and food deprivation the 54th regiment was ordered into battle.Robert volunteered the 54th to lead the charge on the heavily and fortified Fort Wagner.During the battle Robert was pinned down beneath the parapet of the fort and was desperately trying rally his men forward.As he and the flag bearer were mortally wounded and began to fall William seized the colors and prevented the flag from touching the ground.He struggled up the parapet and though wounded in the legs,chest and arm,planted the colors at the top pf the parapet.Despite his wounds and the heavy gunfire around him,William was able to keep the flag aloft.William and the rest of the 54th Massachusetts remained pinneddown.Only after reinforcements arrived was the beleaguered and decimated unit able to withdraw.struggling back to Union lines while still carrying the colors,William collapsed saying:"Boys the old flag never touched the ground."After the battle he was discharged from infantry due to his wounds.For his act of heroism at Fort Wagner,William was awarded the highest military honor,the Congressional Medal of Honor.He was the first African-American to received this award.Upon his death the flag at the Massachusetts state house was flown half mast in his remembrance,an honor usually given only to honor a deceased governor,senator,congressman or U.S.President.