Recognizing the Buffalo Soldier Regiments

Floor Speech

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Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 160th anniversary of the Buffalo Soldier regiments and to honor the extraordinary legacy of service, courage, and sacrifice of the Black soldiers who helped shape the U.S. Army and our Nation.

On July 28, 1866, Congress authorized the creation of six all-Black Army regiments as part of the Army's post-Civil War reorganization. These units--the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments and the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry Regiments, later consolidated into the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments--became known as the Buffalo Soldiers. Today, July 28, is observed as Buffalo Soldiers Day.

For nearly nine decades, the Buffalo Soldiers served with distinction despite enduring discrimination and segregation within the very military and country they swore to defend. They fought in the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War, the Mexican Expedition, World Wars I and II, and the Korean war. Beyond combat, they built roads and telegraph lines, escorted mail and wagon trains, protected communities across the American West, and served as some of our Nation's first park rangers in Yosemite, Sequoia, and General Grant National Parks, where they fought wildfires and protected America's public lands.

Their exemplary service helped lay the foundation for a more inclusive Armed Forces. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, beginning the desegregation of the Armed Forces and marking a pivotal step toward equality in military service.

For Arizona, this history carries special significance. Fort Huachuca served as a home station for the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments. The 10th Cavalry became the post's garrison regiment in 1913, participated in General John J. Pershing's Mexican Expedition, guarded the southern border during World War I, and served in and around Nogales, where the regiment maintained a squadron-sized camp and patrolled the surrounding border region. The 25th Infantry Regiment later assumed the garrison mission. During World War II, more than 30,000 Black soldiers passed through Fort Huachuca before deploying in service to our Nation. Their service is woven into Arizona's history and remains a lasting source of pride for our State.

As a Navy combat veteran, I know the strength of our military has always come from those willing to serve. The Buffalo Soldiers proved that through decades of dedicated service under some of the most difficult circumstances. Their story reminds us that some of the Americans who sacrificed the most for our country were too often denied the very freedoms and opportunities they fought to defend. Honoring their service means recognizing both their extraordinary military accomplishments and the barriers they overcame in service to our Nation.

I also recognize the descendants, veterans, historians, educators, and community leaders who continue preserving and sharing this important history so that future generations understand the lasting contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers.

On this 160th anniversary, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Buffalo Soldiers, remembering their sacrifices, and celebrating their enduring impact on our military and our Nation.

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