Featured Eldergiver

El-der-giv-er, noun
An individual, regardless of age, who appreciates the positive aspects of growing old and who is willing to challenge the negative stereotypes of aging. Someone who respects and honors elders. Any woman, man or child who intentionally shapes the social, emotional, moral, intellectual and spiritual content of his or her experience into the practical wisdom that can benefit the whole community.

FLOYD DADE

Floyd Dade, Jr., of San Francisco, California, is an eldergiver.

Like many of those who are part of what Tom Brokaw refers to as the "greatest generation", Floyd Dade's teenage years were interrupted by the World War II draft. He was 18 when he was called up in 1943 — without even graduating from high school Civil rights were two decades away for African Americans, but they were still expected to serve their country. He would earn his GED after the war.

Because Floyd and his family were known and respected in their hometown of Texarkana, Arkansas, he was placed in the U. S. Army's only Black unit — the 761st Tank Battalion, which had been formed in 1942 and was assigned to General George S. Patton, Jr.'s Third Army. The 761st, later known as the Black Panther Tank Battalion, was deployed to Europe, landing at Omaha Beach on October 10, 1944.

The Black Panthers were committed to battle on November 8th and for the next several months (including 183 days of continual fighting in miserable fall, winter and early spring weather, and in action in the Battle of the Bulge) fought their way through France, Belgium, Luxemborg, Holland, Germany and Austria. They were among the American forces to link up with the Soviet Army at the River Steyr in Austria.

You can learn more about this extraordinary and little-known chapter in American history, and
about Floyd Dade, by accessing the Battalion's website: www.761st.com.

Floyd returned to civilian life in 1948. Eventually, after delays caused by the deep racial prejudices
of the times, the 761st was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation by President Carter.

The military environment and the wartime years were the most difficult Floyd had experienced in
his young life, as they were for thousands of others. But Floyd has weaved the lessons learned in
the disciplined ranks of the military and in the heat of battle - courage, bravery, teamwork, service
and sacrifice — into the tapestry of a useful and meaningful life that continues to bless many others.

The 761st still exists today and its dwindling membership of veterans from the European campaign
takes a very pro-active stance in educating others about this vital period in American and world
history. Floyd has played a leading role since 1990 in the continuing work of the 761st Tank Battalion.

He particularly enjoys making presentations to school children. In February, 2005, ELDERGIVERS
introduced Floyd to the fifth grade class at French-American International School (FAIS) in San
Francisco. Teacher, Sandy Rechtschaffen, had teamed up with ELDERGIVERS' A+ Program when
she was second-grade teacher at FAIS during 2001, 2002 and 2003. She called ELDERGIVERS'
Executive Director, Brent Nettle, to ask if he could help her find someone to talk with the children
about World War II prior to their field trip to France to celebrate the 60th anniversary of V-Day.
Brent thought of Floyd right away. In March, Sandy invited Floyd to the classroom where he spent an hour telling a very curious and attentive group of 16 eleven-year olds about his wartime service and how it has shaped his later years.

Once the kids got to Normandy, they blitzed Floyd with postcards. They told him what his talk
had meant to them and how his experience in the 761st had not only helped them understand
what the war was all about, but in grasping the racial realities of mid-20th century America, too.

And in June, Sandy and her fifth-graders invited Floyd to be part of their graduation exercise.
The kids thanked him again and presented him with two beautifully illustrated binders with
individually written observations about what they had learned from Floyd, as well as original
poems they had penned about the war. Parents and other teachers came up after the ceremony
to express their deep gratitude for the contribution which Floyd and the men of the 761st had
made for the freedom we enjoy today.

In July, Floyd and other members of the 761st Tank Battalion traveled to Austin, Texas, where they
were interviewed as part of a documentary that will be shown in the near future on the History
Channel.

Floyd and his wife, Edris, live in San Francisco. They have six children and 12 grandchildren. Floyd
fills his days with family, friends, church and a variety of volunteer activities and, of course, the
on-going responsibilities of his work with the 761st.