VA Honors Black Soldiers Executed in 1917 with New Headstones

In a historic correction, the VA dedicates new headstones to 17 Black soldiers, acknowledging their wrongful execution and honoring their service.

The Department of Veterans Affairs dedicated new headstones for 17 Black soldiers executed after the 1917 Houston riots, correcting a historical injustice.
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth vacated the soldiers' convictions in 2023, acknowledging they were wrongly treated due to racial bias and did not receive fair trials.
The new headstones include each soldier’s rank, unit, and home state, honoring their service and correcting the record of their unjust executions.
Descendants of the soldiers and civil rights activists attended the dedication ceremony, reflecting on the progress made and the importance of acknowledging past injustices.
The soldiers, part of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, were originally convicted in rushed and unfair trials following a riot sparked by racial tensions in Jim Crow-era Houston.