4/6/2011 Buffalo Soldiers

We woke this morning to high winds. Forty miles an hour winds with gusts to fifty five. Bob took our trash to the dumpster and had a hard time walking back against the wind.

We won’t be going anywhere today so it will be a good time to finish up our visit to the museum here on post.

The second part of our museum tour was all about the Buffalo Soldiers.

Each display gave an answer to a question about the Buffalo Soldiers. I’m going to type them out here so that you can learn about these amazingly brave men.

WHO WERE THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS?

“Buffalo Soldier has become the common name describing the African American soldier in the US Army, from 1866 to 1941. During this time, black soldiers were assigned to separate units, or regiments, from white soldiers. In 1866, after Civil War service in which over 180,000 black soldiers successfully and honorably served in the “colored regiments” of the Union Army, Congress created six colored regiments, two of cavalry and four on infantry, for the regular full time Army. This was done in part to augment a rapidly shrinking army tired from the war, as well as to provide employment, for former slaves and to move them out of the Reconstruction South. Although African Americans had fought in every war in American history, this was the first time of actual regiments of black soldiers were formed during “peacetime”. Budget problems led the six regiments to be reduced to four in 1869, the 9th and 10th Calvary, and the 24th and 25th Infantry regiments.

These four regiments became the Buffalo Soldier regiments. They served until the 1940’s when the horse Calvary was disbanded in favor of tanks and armored vehicles, and Infantry regiments were absorbed into larger Infantry divisions. Since the larger divisions of World War II contained many former soldiers of the old regiments , often the troops are also considered “Buffalo Soldiers”. In fact, the term has been applied to all Black soldiers who served in the segregated Army. In 1947, President Truman signed the order ending segregation and though integration was slow, the era of the Buffalo Soldier ended. Some Buffalo Soldiers served many more years before retirement, and some segregated units had still not been desegregated until several years after the Korean War.

WHY WERE THEY CALLED BUFFALO SOLDIERS?

The true reason may never be known and there are many variations. Most were said to have been given the Native Americans whom they engaged in battle. The most common and simple reason, which dates back to an 1872 letter, says that their short wooly hair resembled the matted cushion of hair between the horns of a buffalo. In 1873 a magazine correspondent gave the Comanche Indians credit for noticing that, like the buffalo, men of the 10th Cavalry and the 25th Infantry were “wooly”. A later journalist wrote the Cheyenne Indians said they fought like buffaloes, evidently referring to the fighting prowess of the black soldiers who would, like a buffalo, turn to defend his ground and even charge an enemy to protect the herd.

WHAT DISTINGUISED THE BUFFALO SOLDIER?

It was just not that they were courageous, self-sacrificing and loved their country – these attributes can be found in military men everywhere. What distinguishes them is that they possessed those qualities in a society that was determined to brand them inferior. They rose above the prejudice demonstrating their mettle by duty, sacrifice, a quiet dignity lacking outright protest, steadfast in the belief that their accomplishments would prove others wrong. There were many awards and citations, including 18 Medals of Honor, bestowed upon the Buffalo Soldiers for gallantry in action. The regiments were marked by a high level or morale and unit cohesiveness, despite the weight of prejudice upon them. In essence, Buffalo Soldiers were the “point men” in the Civil Rights struggle, whose actions led the way for desegregated military, which led to events which stretched well into the next century. It has been said that the problem of discrimination was a widespread in the Army, as in other parts of American society, but barriers fell faster in the Army where the most important measure of a soldier was, and still is, dependability in a fight, not the color of his skin.

There was more, of course, to the display and Bob and I took the time to read every bit of information there was. I certainly learned a lot. I had heard the term Buffalo Soldier before and knew who it referred to but that was about the extent of my knowledge on this subject. Now I know a lot more and I’m better off for it.

Willie, I hope I did alright with this post.