[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 123 (Tuesday, July 28, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S4293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING THE BUFFALO SOLDIER REGIMENTS

  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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