Gregory Chandler-Buffalo Soldiers-Black History Month 2013

February is Black History Month.  Therefore, I write about the African American military troops known as the Buffalo Soldiers. 

The first Buffalo Soldiers were members of the United States Army's 10th Cavalry Regiment.  The unit was formed in September 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  Later, other regiments also became known as Buffalo Soldiers.       

There is some historical disagreement about the nickname Buffalo Soldiers.  One theory is that Native Americans used the term Buffalo Soldiers because of the troops curly hair.  Yet another theory is that the term Buffalo Soldiers come from the troops outstanding fighting ability. 

Buffalo Soldiers participated in the American Indian Wars, Spanish-American Wars, Philippine-American War, and World Wars I and II. 

The Korean War had racial integration come to the United States military.  Therefore, the Buffalo Soldiers ceased to exist. 

Today, there is a Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston, Texas. 


Gregory Chandler, Colonel US Army Reserve