Although no contemporary record of his birth has been found, Solomon Dotson is believed to have been born on Christmas Day, 1894, in Jacksonville, Cherokee County, Texas.
As early as August 1916, Dotson was serving as a private in
Company H, 365th Infantry, U.S. Army.
The 365th was a racially-segregated, all Negro regiment. However, it was somewhat unusual in that,
unlike most other segregated units, it had African American officers. Dotson’s commanding officer was Captain
William Washington Green. Green was
awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star for his heroic
actions during World War I. Therefore,
it seems likely that Solomon Dotson too saw combat during the War.
Solomon had several service tours throughout his life. Promoted to the rank of private first class,
Dotson continues to appear on the 365th ‘s roster until January 31, 1919, when
he was presumably discharged.
Proud of his World War I service, Dotson was active in
veterans’ organizations throughout his later years. In 1936, he was the finance officer for the
William F. Blake American Legion Post #40 (the post appears to have been
renamed the Tilden White Post at a later date). Dotson’s teenaged daughter Lonnie was
president of the post’s junior auxiliary.
Dotson also belonged to the Virgil Bell Veterans of Foreign Wars Post
1710, which still exists.
1940 was an election year, and Solomon Dotson was active in
the ‘Wilkie for President’ club.
However, he didn’t live to see the outcome of the election as he died on
October 15th of a cerebral hemorrhage associated with hypertension. His funeral took place at the Calvary Baptist
Church, after which he was laid to rest in the Maricopa County Cemetery (now
Cementerio Lindo).
-story shortened, story by Donna Carr
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