July 28th marks two important anniversaries this year. First, the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the 10th Cavalry and 38th Infantry regiments at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Second, the 25th anniversary of the National Buffalo Soldiers Monument dedication by then General Colin Powell.
The integration of the regular peace time army on July 28, 1866 called for six segregated regiments of African-Americans. The 9th and 10th Cavalry, and the 38th, 39th, 40th and 41st Infantry.
Recruitment started in earnest in 1867 before most companies were full strength. Then again in 1869 the Army reorganized, mixing the 38th and 41st Infantry into the 24th, and the 39th and 40th into the 25th.
This realignment remained in place through the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War and the Mexican Boarder Conflicts.
Altogether, the Buffalo Soldiers were engaged in every war from 1866 to 1944. They were victorious, heroic warriors and tacticians unequaled in honor and Valor. Our mission is to bring this important image to life before your eyes, and entreat your heart with oral history in complete period attire. We are Buffalo Soldiers!
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At age 88, I am trying to remember a name A n Afro American long retired Warrant Officer living in Leavenworth Ks. was instrumental in the Museum. He was a well known musician and loved in the Lv. Ft Lv area Please help/ I was a teacher at Patton Jr Hi from 1962 to retirement in 1992 /
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I will be coming to see the Buffalo Soldier Monument with my horses in September that Monument is Beautiful
I will be riding from Kansas City Mo. to Ft.Leavenworth
My father was a member of the Buffalo Soldiers during WWII stationed at Ft. Huachuca, AZ. My mother was an army nurse stationed at the same posr at the same time. We grew up with a profound respect for the Buffalo Soldiers, and in 2012 we visited the Memorial while in Kansas. It is a lovely and peaceful place to honor them and the other black heroes of the Army. I have recommended visiting it to former students and colleages here in California.
What I would like to see is a complete, Army written history of the units including their treatment during the two World Wars. This information and historical accuracy is hard to find in the academy. It is needed along with information on their effect on the citizens of the Western states during the /Indian Wars and Mexican efforts.
My father in law Lee Brubaker designed the Buffalo Soldier Monument and it’s based on his painting of the Buffalo Soldier. He died before the installation. My husband John was at the dedication and shook hands with General Powell. His mom Carmelita Brubaker and his sister Anastasia were there as well. Carmelita died yesterday after a long battle with cancer. If there is a 25th ceremony we might be interested in bringing our children ages 23, 27 to finally see their Grandpa”s work.
The family still has the original oil painting.
Please reach out to me with details about the anniversary event.
Thank you
Susan Brubaker
314-960-9525