Soldiers Worth Saluting: FWISD ROTC Director Invited to the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony for 369th Infantry Regiment in Washington, DC.

Soldiers Worth Saluting: FWISD ROTC Director Invited to the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony for 369th Infantry Regiment in Washington, DC. 

FORT WORTH, TEXAS — When Lieutenant Colonel (RET) Richard Crossley, Jr., and his wife Gail travel to Washington, D.C. on September 3, 2025, they will once again step into history. Invited by U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, they will attend their second Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony—this time honoring the 369th Infantry Regiment, the legendary Harlem Hellfighters. Earlier this year, on April 29, the Crossleys attended the Gold Medal ceremony for the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female battalion to deploy overseas during World War II.

What began as a chance encounter at the Fort Worth MLK March between Pastor Kyev Tatum and Lt. Colonel Crossley has now placed Fort Worth’s JROTC Director of Army Instruction at the center of two of the most significant military recognitions in U.S. history—during the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army and the 80th Anniversary of World War II.

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known as the “Six Triple Eight,” carried out one of the most daunting logistical missions of World War II. Facing warehouses stacked to the ceiling with undelivered mail, these 855 African American women worked around the clock under harsh conditions in England and France. Their motto, “No mail, low morale,” captured the spirit of their mission, as they sorted and redirected 17 millions pieces of mail to soldiers across the European Theater. Their service not only sustained the morale of troops but also shattered racial and gender barriers in the military.

The 369th Infantry Regiment, better known as the Harlem Hellfighters, etched their legacy during World War I. In the Great War, they spent more time in continuous combat than any other American unit—191 days on the front lines—and never lost a trench or a man to capture. Renowned for their courage, they returned home decorated by the French but largely unrecognized in their own country. Their fight was not only against the enemy abroad but also against the racism and segregation they faced at home. By honoring them with the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation acknowledges their unmatched valor and restores dignity to their overlooked legacy.

For Lt. Colonel Crossley, the honor of attending these ceremonies carries a deeply personal weight. His own career reflects the same virtues of service, perseverance, and leadership that defined the Harlem Hellfighters. A native of McComb, Mississippi, Crossley began his military journey as an enlisted soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Rising through the ranks, he became an Airborne Distinguished Military Graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi in 1979, later earning a Master of Public Service from Western Kentucky University.

Throughout his distinguished Army career, he served as Aide-de-Camp, Company Commander, Battalion Executive Officer, Operations & Training Officer for III Corps, Secretary General Staff for the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Hood, Texas, and Deputy Inspector General at AAFES Headquarters in Dallas. His leadership extended to the classroom as well, where he became a Small Group Instructor at the U.S. Army Armor School before dedicating the past 25 years of his life to shaping future leaders through the JROTC program in Fort Worth ISD. Since 2011, he has served as the Director of Army Instruction, guiding thousands of cadets with the same values of discipline and resilience that fueled his military career.

Like the Harlem Hellfighters, Lt. Colonel Crossley’s journey is marked by a refusal to yield—whether on the battlefield, in the classroom, or in service to his community. His numerous awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal, reflect a life committed to honor and country.

By standing among the families and descendants of the 6888th and the 369th, Crossley not only represents Fort Worth but also embodies the enduring spirit of military excellence and sacrifice. His story, like theirs, is proof that courage transcends generations.

“These stories are America’s stories,” Pastor Kyev Tatum reflected. “They remind us that the fight for freedom abroad and the fight for equality at home are forever intertwined. By honoring the 6888th and the Harlem Hellfighters, we honor every soldier who gave more than this country ever gave them in return.”

For the Crossleys, these invitations are more than ceremonial—they are a call to remember, to teach, and to inspire. In celebrating the 6888th and the 369th, they join the nation in declaring that courage, service, and sacrifice must never be forgotten.