[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 101 (Thursday, July 28, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        WYOMING BUFFALO SOLDIERS

  (Mr. THOMAS of Wyoming asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks, and include 
extraneous material.)
  Mr. THOMAS of Wyoming. Mr. Speaker, 128 years ago today--July 28, 
1866--Congress passed an act, the General Order 56, which allowed a 
distinguished group of people to participate in war and changed 
military history forever. I would like to recognize these veterans, who 
throughout the 1800's, played a key role in settling the American West. 
These brave soldiers were stationed at Fort D.A. Russell, which today 
is F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, WY. They participated in 
everything from protecting the boundaries of Wyoming to escorting 
President Roosevelt when he, and two of his Cabinet members, visited 
Cheyenne for a city parade in the early 1900's. It is with great honor 
that we remember and pay tribute to the American buffalo soldier; also 
known to the Cheyenne Indians at Ta'Tunka.
  Most of these men who were newly freed slaves, fought in both the 
Indian and Spanish American Wars, assisted in building miles of roads 
in my State and across the West and explored many areas of the untamed 
western frontier. They were often issued old equipment and fought in 
the coldest weather the West had to offer, with integrity, dignity, and 
commitment to this new country.
  When Wyoming became a State in 1890, buffalo soldiers played and 
marched in parades that took place in Cheyenne. In addition, during the 
early years of the Cheyenne frontier days--the biggest rodeo event in 
Wyoming--buffalo soldiers raced chariots to the thrill of spectators. 
Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., one of the soldiers that escorted President 
Roosevelt, later went on to become the Nation's first African-American 
general and Gen. John J. Pershing served with a distinguished buffalo 
soldier unit during his career.
  These veterans played an important part in the history of Wyoming and 
the West and there are over 21 buffalo soldiers' remains at the base 
cemetery in Cheyenne. To honor their commitment and sacrifices, there 
will be a bugler's tribute of taps played today in Cheyenne. I rise 
today to pay tribute to all of the buffalo soldiers who gave their 
lives for freedom and expansion in the American West.
  Mr. Speaker, I include an article on the Wyoming buffalo soldiers, as 
follows:

                  The Buffalo Soldier at Fort Russell

                  (By MSgt. Cornelius ``Doc'' Settles)

       July 28, 1866, the Congress met and passed an act, General 
     Order 56, which changed the history of the U.S. military 
     forever. The troops affected by this act, the buffalo 
     soldiers, went into battle and wrote untold pages of history 
     for freedom. These troops, through the course of their 
     historic journey, were mistreated, ill-equipped, soldiers who 
     proudly patrolled Wyoming during the worst weather conditions 
     the frontier had to offer.
       The Native American Cheyenne Indians called them Ta'Tunka. 
     All of them were either sons of or newly freed slaves 
     themselves. Their motto was ready and forward throughout the 
     1800s. During the Indian Wars, one out of every five soldiers 
     in Texas was a buffalo soldier.
       In early Cheyenne Frontier Days celebrations before there 
     were chuck wagon races, these troops, stationed at Fort D.A. 
     Russell, raced chariots to entertain the crowds. One troop, 
     Moses Reeder, even won the CFD bronco contest. When Wyoming 
     became a state in 1890, the buffalo soldiers were on hand to 
     play and march in the parade through downtown Cheyenne. When 
     Teddy Roosevelt, along with two of his cabinet members, came 
     to visit Cheyenne in the early 1900s these troops were his 
     personal escort through the city parade. One of the troopers 
     in that escort later became the nation's first African-
     American general.
       Sgt. Maj. Edward L. Baker, a Laramie County buffalo 
     soldier, left cover under fire and rescued a wounded comrade 
     from drowning during the Spanish-American War in Cuba, July 
     1, 1898. Pvt. James Settlers, a buffalo soldier from Wyoming, 
     was cited for saving his commanding officer at Wind River, 
     Wyoming.
       Three regiments of buffalo soldiers served at Fort D.A. 
     Russell between 1887 and 1916. The 9th and 10th Cavalry 
     Regiments and 24th Infantry Regiment all came here to 
     Cheyenne. Gen. John J. Pershing served with the buffalo 
     soldier units and was given the nickname ``Black Jack.''
       There are over 21 buffalo soldiers' remains in the base 
     cemetery. These soldiers will be acknowledged by a bugler's 
     tribute of taps Thursday.

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