William J. Warfield (7 Jun 1883 - 12 Feb 1966), was an officer in the Illinois National Guard and a state legislator[1] in Illinois. He represented part of Chicago. He was elected in 1928 to represent the 5th District.[2]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Lt._W._J._Warfield_-_from%2C_Colored_Troops_-_Officers_of_the_Famous_Colored_Regiment_which_Arrived_Home_on_the_%22France.%22_-_NARA_-_26431284_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Lt._W._J._Warfield_-_from%2C_Colored_Troops_-_Officers_of_the_Famous_Colored_Regiment_which_Arrived_Home_on_the_%22France.%22_-_NARA_-_26431284_%28cropped%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Negro_Officers_of_the_Famous_8th_Illinois_%28fought_in_France_as_the_370th_Infantry%29_decorated_by_French_Government_for_gallantry_in_action.jpg/220px-Negro_Officers_of_the_Famous_8th_Illinois_%28fought_in_France_as_the_370th_Infantry%29_decorated_by_French_Government_for_gallantry_in_action.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Warfield%2C_William_J_-_Unit-_63rd_Infantry%2C_Company-_C_-_Enlistment_Rank-_Corp%2C_Discharge_Rank-_Corp_-_DPLA_-_7aee691167701b7f887fc1b466b80a0c.jpg/220px-Warfield%2C_William_J_-_Unit-_63rd_Infantry%2C_Company-_C_-_Enlistment_Rank-_Corp%2C_Discharge_Rank-_Corp_-_DPLA_-_7aee691167701b7f887fc1b466b80a0c.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Colored_Troops_-_Officers_of_the_Famous_Colored_Regiment_which_Arrived_Home_on_the_%22France.%22_-_NARA_-_26431284.jpg/220px-Colored_Troops_-_Officers_of_the_Famous_Colored_Regiment_which_Arrived_Home_on_the_%22France.%22_-_NARA_-_26431284.jpg)
He was a Lieutenant in the Illinois National Guard deployed to the Mexican border and then to Europe during World War I where his black unit was deployed under French command because of segregation. He became a Brigadier General in the Illinois National Guard.[1] He was a Republican.[3] He passed away at 82 years old. (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/101151467/william-j-warfield)
He was photographed with fellow black officers Otis B. Duncan and J. R. White.[4]
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "William Warfield". March 10, 2022.
- ^ Williams, Erma Brooks (2008). Political Empowerment of Illinois' African-American State Lawmakers from 1877 to 2005. University Press of America. ISBN 9780761840183.
- ^ "Warfield. Wm.-Military info". The Dispatch. December 12, 1940. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Historic Pic William J. Warfield 1889-1966". groups.google.com.
- ^ "William Warfield - Recipient -". valor.militarytimes.com.