Chapter 9
Patriotism in the Piney Woods
Altare During the World Wars
“For Altare, military service became both a burden and a badge of honor. The wars pulled young men from their fields, exposed them to the broader injustices of America, and returned them—changed men—to a community that cherished them.”
The First Wave: World War I
When the “Great War” began, Altare’s young men answered the call during a time of peak segregation. For many Black Mississippians, service was tied to the hope often unfulfilled of earning the respect and citizenship rights denied to them at home.
The Altare WWI Veterans:
- Genie Chapman (c. 1887–1925): The son of Daniel and Mandy Jane Chapman, he served in an era when Black soldiers were often relegated to labor battalions. He returned home with the pride of a veteran but the weight of a nation that still refused him equality.
- Charlie Evans (1896–1973): Drafted in 1918 shortly after his marriage, the war marked a turning point that instilled in him a quiet resilience.
- Tommie “Tom” Lewis (1892–1974): Grandson of Benjamin Evans, he trained at Camp Shelby and brought home a strengthened sense of duty that shaped his leadership in the church and community.
- Henry Beal (1893–1951): Served honorably before eventually settling in Estabuchie, Mississippi.
On the home front, Altare’s school and teachers energetically participated in the War Savings Stamp Campaign. While white newspapers often ignored their contributions, these drives allowed the community to demonstrate a unity and civic service that linked them to the national cause.
The Second Wave: World War II
Two decades later, the “Double V” campaign—victory over fascism abroad and victory over Jim Crow at home—defined the service of a new generation.
The Altare WWII Veterans:
- Ambus Arrington (1916–1995): Son of Henry and Isabella, he returned from service with a renewed sense of purpose.
- Cromwell Chapman (1915–1997): His military experience molded him into a pillar of Altare, serving as a Deacon, Church Secretary, Mason, and Knight of Pythias.
- Robert H. Chapman (1916–1986): Drafted just before Pearl Harbor, he returned with a deep awareness of the cost of war.
- Bairl Arrington Jr., James Lewis Jr., and Shelton “Hot” Murphy also served, representing the broad commitment of Altare’s primary family lines.
The Crucible of Camp Shelby
Many Altare soldiers trained at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, where they faced the stark reality of military segregation. Black soldiers were often barred from post exchanges or forced to eat their ice cream outside. One soldier wrote to the NAACP, stating that some companies seemed intent on “killing the spirit of their soldiers”. Yet, they found dignity in the newly built Negro USO Center and in boxing tournaments where Black soldiers excelled, bringing a sense of victory to the troops.
The Silent Front: Mothers of the Church
While the men were away, the women of Altare bore the emotional and economic weight of the conflict. Hannah Coleman Chapman (1885–1962) is the embodiment of this sacrifice. A widow who saw both of her sons, Robert and Cromwell, drafted into WWII, she maintained her household alone through the hardships of Jim Crow. Though her sons returned, her grandson Clinton Chapman would later die in Vietnam, proving that for Altare, the price of patriotism was paid over generations.
Coming Home and Moving On
The end of the wars sparked a transformation. While many Black veterans were denied the full and equal access to the GI Bill, the experience of travel and service opened their eyes to possibilities beyond the piney woods. This accelerated the Great Migration, as veterans moved to Chicago, Detroit, and St. Louis in search of the union jobs and opportunities unavailable in Mississippi. Those who stayed used their veteran status to anchor the church and fraternal lodges, forever changing the social fabric of Altare.
