Brownwood in Brown County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Roy Eldon "Buck" White

USS Alcedo (SP- 166)

Photographed by James Hulse, May 30, 2024

1. Roy Eldon "Buck" White Marker

Inscription. Roy Eldon "Buck" White was born in Brownwood on 28 February 1900. He changed his date of birth so he could enlist in the Navy on 20 April 1917 when he was only 17 years old. Fireman Second Class White was on the USS Alcedo when it was sunk by a German submarine on 5 November 1917. This was the first US Navy ship torpedoed by the Germans in World War I. Only 43 men survived. During the attack, his nose was partly torn from his face, and he received a Purple Heart. Roy "Buck" White was treated at a French naval hospital and was assigned to a French railroad gun before returning to sea. He was discharged on 23 January 1919. Buck played football at Daniel Baker College in Brownwood from 1920 to 1922. He was recruited to play football at Valparaiso (Indiana) University in 1923 and 1924. He was an All-American at both Daniel Baker College and Valparaiso University. He is a member of the Daniel Baker College Hillbilly Hall of Honor. Renowned coach George Halas recruited Buck to play for the Chicago Bears in 1924 when he was still at Valparaiso. (the rumor was that in 1924, Roy White played for Valparaiso on Saturdays and the Chicago

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Bears on Sundays under the name of Roy Black.) he played fullback and linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 1925 until 1929 and was on two world championship teams. He was described by legendary running back Harold "Red" Grange as "The greatest blocking back ever to put on a football suit." The famous Jim Thorpe said that he stopped playing football because of the hard hits delivered by Buck White described as "the most bone jarring hits he ever took." He was also a punter and one year averaged 60 yards per punt. Buck won the United States Amateur Boxing Title in 1924, but illness prevented him from participating in the Olympics. In 1930, he returned to Texas and devoted his life to teaching and coaching. He retired from teaching and coaching in 1966. He died on 15 May 1993 in San Antonio at the age of 93.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Sports • War, World I. A significant day of the year for for this entry is May 31.

Location. 31° 40.625′ N, 98° 59.518′ W. Memorial is in Brownwood, Texas, in Brown County. It is on Crockett Drive south of Memorial Park Drive, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located

The view of the Roy Eldon "Buck" White Marker along the pathway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, May 30, 2024

2. The view of the Roy Eldon "Buck" White Marker along the pathway

at the northwest section of the Camp Bowie Memorial Park. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 3710 Crockett Drive, Brownwood TX 76801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Big Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: S.J. "Skipper" Howard Jr. (a few steps from this marker); Marvin Lee "Lefty" Gardner (a few steps from this marker); 1Lt Joe Henry (J.H.) Childs (a few steps from this marker); LTC John S Palmer Jr (a few steps from this marker); Major Jack Carlson (a few steps from this marker); Military Families and Spouses (within shouting distance of this marker); Obice da 149/19 modello 37 (within shouting distance of this marker); Major Billy T Branch (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers

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in Brownwood.

Also see . . . USS Alcedo. Wikipedia

On the afternoon of 4 November, Alcedo departed Quiberon Bay, France with Aphrodite Noma, and Kanawha II as the escort for a convoy composed of SS Florence Luckenbach, SS Artemis, and SS Newport News bound for Brest. At about 01:45 the following morning, while the convoy was steaming some 75 mi (121 km) west of Belle He, an Alcedo crewman reported sighting a surfaced U-boat. Almost instantaneously with the sounding of the alarm, the German submarine UC-71 fired a single torpedo in a surface attack. (Some Alcedo records suggest that the U-boat submerged first, but the official German account confirms a surface attack.) Alcedo attempted to change course to evade the torpedo, but she answered her helm sluggishly. The torpedo struck the yacht on the port side well forward, and Alcedo began to settle fast. Soon after the hit, the ship's commanding officer ordered her abandoned, and she went down in eight minutes. The yacht lost one officer, Lieutenant, junior grade John Melvin, and 20 sailors in the action to both wounds and drowning. The remainder of her crew took to the boats in two separate groups. After a long time rowing, one group — which included the commanding officer — was picked up by a French torpedo boat. The other was towed to safety by French fishermen.

(Submitted on June 2, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 288 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 2, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.