[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 22, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN HONOR OF THOMAS HENDRICKS, ONE OF THE LAST LIVING BUFFALO SOLDIERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Barrett] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to 
pay tribute to an outstanding member of my community and one of the 
last surviving Buffalo Soldiers of the United States Army, Mr. Thomas 
Hendricks. The story of Thomas Hendricks and his fellow Buffalo 
Soldiers who served before him will forever be a significant part of 
the history of America.
  The legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers dates back to post Civil War days. 
Although African Americans have fought with distinction in all of this 
country's military engagements, their future in the Army was even in 
doubt after the Civil War. In July 1866, however, Congress passed 
legislation establishing two cavalry regiments and four regiments of 
infantrymen, later merging two, whose composition was made up entirely 
of black soldiers.
  The troopers of the 9th and 10th Cavalries developed into two of the 
most distinguished fighting units in the Army. The fierce fighting 
techniques of these soldiers and their bravery on the battlefield 
inspired Native Americans to call them Buffalo Soldiers. Although 
history has often overlooked the contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers, 
I am proud to salute one of its finest cavalrymen, Thomas Hendricks. He 
is a man of courage and wears the name Buffalo Soldier with honor and 
great pride.
  Thomas Hendricks was born on February 14, 1920, in Evanston, 
Illinois. As a young boy, he was strongly influenced by his 
grandfather, James Hendricks, who was also a Buffalo Soldier and served 
our country with distinction. It was actually his grandfather who 
inspired him to become a Buffalo Soldier and carry on the legacy of the 
hundreds of thousands of African Americans who have given their lives 
for the sake of freedom in our country.
  Thomas Hendricks joined the 10th Cavalry of the U.S. Army in 1938 as 
a volunteer after receiving extensive military training under the 
tutelage of his grandfather. A few years later, he was sent to Ft. Hood 
for training and went on to pursue a distinguished military career 
which extended more than a decade.
  Throughout his career as a Buffalo Soldier, Tom Hendricks has 
received numerous honors, including Battle Stars, for his valiant 
efforts in World War II. He was engaged in military conflicts including 
the Normandy Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge. Although much has 
changed since the days of the Buffalo Soldiers, including the 
integration of all military servicemen and women, the story of Tom 
Hendricks and his fellow Buffalo Soldiers who served before him will 
remain one of great patriotism and unsurpassed courage.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in saluting Thomas Hendricks for his 
accomplishments as a Buffalo Soldier. We owe him a tremendous debt of 
gratitude for his service to our country, and we should all be proud of 
his contribution to our Nation's military history.

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