1928 WPCD Team
The 1928 West Point Cavalry Detachment team members were identified based on the labeled team picture that appeared in the 1929 Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide. Seven 1928 West Point Cavalry Detachment team members were on the 1925 team. While those men are listed below, their profiles are on the 1925-1926 team page. The available biographies and/or images of the remaining twenty-four players and Coach Wood are below.
The 1928 team played in the West Point Enlisted Men's Football League and had a game scheduled with the Kingston (NY) Yellow Jackets, but the outcome of those games is unknown.
1928 Team Members
Bailey, Roy. Unknown position. Arrived at West Point in September 1926 and was discharged in September 1929. Highest known rank. Private First Class. No other information
Bell, Percy A. See 1925-1926 team page.
Benefield, William R. See 1925-1926 team page.
Bledsoe, unknown. Left end. Arrived at West Point in January 1927. Started some football games before transferring to the Service Detachment, Washington Barracks, DC, in December 1928. No other information is available.
Boswell, Morris Isam. Unknown position. (b. December 6, 1909, in Montgomery, AL / m. to unknown. Widowed by 1940 / d. January 1986 in Philadelphia ) Boswell grew up on a family farm in Alabama before moving to Corning, New York, in his teens. He enlisted in the Cavalry Detachment in May 1926, along with four others from the Corning area. Boswell helped the detachment win the 1927 West Point Enlisted Men's track championship. After his first tour, he appears to have left the Army and lived in Youngstown, Ohio, until 1940 or later. According to a 1985 newspaper article describing the 1925 enlistee group from Corning, Boswell served during WWII, becoming a Staff Sgt. He was living in Philadelphia in 1985 and at his death in 1986. Highest rank: Staff Sgt.
Cassey, Walter. Halfback / Tackle. (b. January 12, 1910, in Americus, GA / m. Nancy Perkins / d. December 11, 1978, in Gadsen, SC ) Cassey grew up on a family farm in Americus, GA, and reportedly attended and played football for Paine College (GA) before enlisting in 1928. He served until 1934 before moving to Newark, where he worked in construction until the early 1940s. Cassey reenlisted in 1942, serving with the Corps of Engineers until late 1945. Highest rank: Technical Sergeant
Clark, unknown. No other information is available.
Corbin, Harold Francis. Halfback. (b. November 15, 1905, in Wilmington, DE / m. Lillie May Washington on April 21, 1930, in Highland Falls, NY / d. December 30, 1968, in Wilmington, DE/ i. Mount Olive Cemetery in Wilmington, DE) Raised in Wilmington, Delaware, Corbin appears to have joined the Army shortly after turning eighteen and was on the 1928, 1929, and 1930 football teams. After leaving the service, Corbin returned to Wilmington and worked as a janitor for DuPont. In 1939 he ran for the Wilmington City Council on the Civic Action Party ticket. At the time of his death, he was employed as a guard for the Post Office.
Ellis, Leon. Center. (b. August 27, 1908 in Trenton, NJ / m. unknown / d. May 1987 in Newburgh, NY / i. unknown) Ellis appears to have spent time in foster care before returning to his mother by 1920. Reported to have been a football star at Camden HS, he enlisted by 1928. Captained the Cavalry Detachment football team in 1931, playing through the 1933 season. He returned to Trenton by 1940 and worked for Cross & Brown, an NYC real estate firm. Highest rank: unknown
Fenter, Alconley or Al Conley. End. (b. October 24, 1909, in Arkadelphia, AR / m. Carolyn Hancock in 1931 in NJ / d. December 26, 1987 / i. Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery) Fenter is reported to have played for Arkansas Baptist before enlisting in 1928, after which he played football, basketball, and baseball and ran sprints for the Cavalry Detachment teams. Discharged in 1934, Fenter made the news in 1950 for winning money playing the numbers, and being arrested for non-payment of child support. Highest rank: Private
Fisher, Daniel L. Left guard. (b. May 15, 1897, Hanover, PA) Drafted on October 18, 1918, assigned to the Development Battalion, Camp Greene, SC; for being discharged on April 7, 1919. He re-enlisted in September 1926 and started some 1928 games at guard. Fisher was still serving at West Point in 1930, but no other information is available. Highest rank: Private First Class
Foote, Thomas Jerome. See 1925-1926 team page.
Harper, Henry C. Manager. See 1925-1926 team page.
Hodges, Edward J. H. Arrived at West Point in August 1926 and was discharged in August 1929. Highest known rank: Private
Jackson, John Leroy. Left halfback. (b. September 18, 1903 / m. April 2, 1931, to Ethel Ruth Wiggins in Orange County, NY / d. February 4, 1955, in Bethesda, MD / i. Galilee Baptist Church Cemetery in Branchville, VA) Jackson grew up on a family farm in Virginia, enlisted in June 1928, and quickly became a star running back for the detachment. He was with the Cavalry Detachment through WWII, and after the Cavalry Detachment disbanded in 1947, Jackson became an Army recruiter in the region. He was assigned to the 1802th Special Regiment at West Point at the time of death in 1955. Highest rank: Technical Sergeant
Jackson, Paul. Position unknown. (b. 1889, Washington, DC / m. June 2, 1929, Highland Falls, NY, to Mary Davis) Jackson was living in Highland Falls in 1930 while working as a horseshoe in a stables. No other information is known.
Johnson, Lonnie. See 1925-1926 team page.
Long, Aaron Rodger. Center. (b. February 10, 1905, in Broad Run, VA / m. Elizabeth Samuel on December 8, 1937, in Alexandria, VA / d. April 2, 1997, in Newburgh, NY / i. Cedar Hill Cemetery, Newburgh, NY) Long grew up on a family farm in Virginia. He was at West Point by 1928, starting at guard and other line positions until 1932. He left the Army between 1935 and 1940, moved to Washington, D.C., and worked as a plumber. Long reenlisted during WWII and for a period after the war. His tombstone is the only one known among the football players that mentions his being a Buffalo Soldier. It is also worth noting that Long's great-nephew graduated from West Point. Highest rank: Sergeant First Class.
Mason, Leroy. End. (b. 1901 in Virginia) Arrived at West Point in August 1925 and reenlisted there in August 1931. Highest known rank. Private.
O'Neal, Monroe. Left guard. (b. July 17, 1903, in NJ or 1904 in NC / m. unknown / d. July 20, 1987 / i. unknown ) O'Neal reportedly starred in football for Camden HS in New Jersey before enlisting. Although pictured with the 1928 and 1929 teams, he did not start consistently until 1930 and played until at least the 1933 season. O'Neal was with the Cavalry Detachment in 1940, but no additional information is available about him. Highest known rank: Private First Class
Payne, Matthew. Manager. See 1925-1926 team page.
Peachey, Samuel. position. (b. May 1, 1904 in Augusta, GA / m. / d. July 23, 1957, in NYC / i. Long Island National Cemetery) Born in Georgia, Peachey moved north and enlisted in the New York National Guard's 369th Regiment in 1924, perhaps competing with the Harlem Hellfighters in athletic competitions with the Cavalry Detachment. He then switched to active duty with the West Point Cavalry Detachment, making him both a Harlem Hellfighter and a Buffalo Soldier. Peachey remained at West Point until 1940 or later, serving in the Army until after the war ended in Europe before returning to New York City. Highest known rank: Private First Class
Pryor, Robert. Right end. See 1925-1926 team page.
Roberts, John W. Right guard. (b. November 26, 1906, in New York City / m. unknown / d. unknown / i. unknown ) Born of immigrant parents from the British West Indies, Roberts grew up in Brooklyn. He enlisted between 1925 and 1928, played football between 1928 and 1932, and was at West Point in 1939. No additional information is known about Roberts. Highest rank: Private First Class
Simmons, William Floyd. Guard / tackle. (b. April 20, 1900 in Vander, NC / m. Annie Rhone on September 9, 1941, in New York, NY / d. March 15, 1983, in Newburgh, NY / i. West Point Post Cemetery) Growing up in North Carolina, Simmons was a farm laborer when he registered for the WWI draft. He enlisted, playing for the Cavalry Detachment football team in 1928 and 1930. He remained at West Point until 1940 or later. Simmons' duties during WWII and the Korean War are unknown, but he did not leave the Army until 1956. Highest rank: Master Sergeant
Smith, Leroy. Arrived at West Point in August 1926. No other information.
Weston, William. Weston arrived at West Point in April 1926 and was discharged in April 1929. Highest known rank: Private First Class.
White #1, unknown. No other information.
White #2, unknown. No other information.
Coach
Wood, William Holmes. Coach. (b. September 6, 1900, in Waterbury, CT/ m. Elizabeth Tuttle in April 1927 / d. June 7, 1988, in Easton, MD / i. Arlington National Cemetery) Holmes attended school in Baltimore, staying local to attend Johns Hopkins, where he studied for three years and lettered nine times before transferring to West Point. Wood was an All-America fullback as a senior and played basketball and baseball, earning twelve varsity letters. (At the time, Army did not follow standard eligibility rules for transfers.) After graduation, he remained at West Point as an assistant football coach, working with the varsity reserves and coaching the Cavalry Detachment team. He moved to other cavalry duties in 1929, returned to West Point as an assistant coach in 1932, and was Army's football head coach from 1938-1940. Wood served in China and Europe during WWII, remaining in Europe for several years post-war before returning to the States to command the Army's Armored School. He retired in 1956. Highest rank: Brigadier General
This page will be updated as additional information becomes available.