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SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - Hidden in plain sight in a quiet church cemetery in Sumter County lies the story of a long-forgotten World War I hero — Sgt. Perry “Rawhide” Loyd. Loyd served in the 371st Infantry Regiment, an all-Black U.S. Army unit that helped blaze a trail for African American soldiers fighting overseas. More than a century later, his family and community members are working to ensure his legacy is never forgotten. For decades, Loyd’s story rested beneath the soil of High Hills AME Church Cemetery in Dalzell — unnoticed by many who passed by. “I’ve been attending this church all my life,” said Perry James, Loyd’s grandson. “As a little boy, I’d walk past my grandfather’s tombstone, read it, and go about my business.” It wasn’t until James began researching his family’s history that he uncovered the remarkable chapter of courage behind that headstone. “It’s a story that’s very seldom told,” James said. “The 371st was a regiment of African American men who fought valiantly in France.” The men of the 371st Infantry Regiment endured relentless gunfire and shelling during a pivotal battle in France in 1918. Their bravery earned them national and international honors — but for decades, their contributions went largely unrecognized at home. “They were embedded in trenches,” James said. “Those trenches were horrible — the conditions these men had to live and fight from.” Today, Loyd’s descendants continue to share his story with pride. At High Hills AME Church, community members have also joined in honoring the 65 Black soldiers buried there — heroes who fought for a freedom they didn’t fully enjoy themselves. “To me, it’s monumental,” said Beaulah Prioleau-Kelly, a church member. “All history is local. If you don’t know your cemetery’s history, you miss its significance. For years, we walked past these graves, not realizing what heroes rest here.” Now, Loyd’s family is taking that mission a step further — pushing to have a monument built that recognizes the 371st “Colored” Infantry Regiment and the role its soldiers played in shaping American history. “We’re not trying to correct history — we just want people to know how proud they should be of the men of the 371st,” James said. Sgt. Perry “Rawhide” Loyd was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, given to U.S. service members wounded or killed in action. The Military Order of the Purple Heart presented the medal to his surviving family members at his gravesite in Dalzell — a full-circle moment of remembrance and honor. Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.
