A Soldier's Story: Major Vertner Woodson Tandy

Major Vertner Woodson Tandy, A Soldier's Story

Major Vertner Woodson Tandy

Born May 17, 1885 - Died November 7, 1949

Major Vertner Woodson Tandy was born on May 17, 1885, in Lexington, Kentucky. Determined to pursue education and service, he began his studies at Tuskegee Institute before transferring to Cornell University. At Cornell, he distinguished himself academically and socially, becoming one of the founding members of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate fraternity established for Black men, an organization dedicated to leadership, scholarship, and service that would leave a lasting national legacy.

Graduating in 1907, Tandy embarked on a pioneering professional career. He became the first registered African American architect in New York State, breaking barriers in a field where African American representation was nearly nonexistent. Among his most celebrated works is Villa Lewaro, the grand Harlem residence built for entrepreneur and philanthropist Madam C.J. Walker. The home stands as both an architectural achievement and a cultural symbol, representing Black excellence, self-determination, and advancement during a time when many African Americans faced systematic exclusion from professional spaces.

Parallel to his architectural accomplishments, Tandy answered another call: military service. Volunteering for the New York National Guard, he was assigned to the 15th Infantry Regiment, a unit that would later gain international renown as the 369th Infantry Regiment, The Harlem Hellfighters. Tandy made history once more by becoming the first African American soldier to successfully complete the US Army’s Officer Candidate School.

When the 369th deployed to France during World War I, Major Tandy was assigned command of the depot battalion in New York, overseeing stateside responsibilities critical to the regiment’s operations. Though he did not deploy overseas with the Harlem Hellfighters, his service ensured the logistical support that sustained American forces, an essential role often overlooked in wartime histories. His leadership embodied the perseverance and quiet heroism of those who served behind the scenes, enabling frontline success through steadfast commitment at home.

After the war, Tandy continued to be a champion for civil rights and equality, using both his professional prominence and community leadership to advocate for opportunity, representation, and social progress. His life represented the intersection of service, excellence, and activism, proving that patriotic dedication can be expressed on battlefields, in classrooms, drafting studios, and community halls alike.

Major Vertner Woodson Tandy passed away on November 7, 1949, leaving behind a legacy far greater than any single achievement. As a trailblazing architect, military officer, fraternity founder, and civil rights advocate, he opened doors where none had existed. He strengthened a nation still struggling to live up to its ideals. His story remains a testament to courage, not only in combat but in the relentless pursuit of equality, excellence, and service. He rests at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia. 

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