III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 409 

Honoring the dedication and courage of the Buffalo Soldiers. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 15, 2018 

Ms. HARRIS (for herself, Mr. WICKER, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. MENENDEZ, 

Mr. COONS, Mr. TILLIS, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BOOKER, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. 

BROWN, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. COTTON, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. 

SCOTT, Ms. HIRONO, Mrs. MCCASKILL, Mr. CARPER, Mr. NELSON, Mr. 

SANDERS, Mr. BENNET, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, and Mr. PETERS) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 

Services 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the dedication and courage of the Buffalo Soldiers. 

Whereas by the Act of July 28, 1866 (14 Stat. 332, chapter 

299), after the end of the Civil War, African-American 

men were allowed to serve in segregated units of the 

United States Army; 

Whereas the first Buffalo Soldiers were former slaves and 

former African-American soldiers that fought in the Civil 

War; 

Whereas the first Buffalo Soldiers comprised the 9th and 

10th cavalry regiments and were the first African AmeriVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:10 Feb 16, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR409.IS SR409

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•SRES 409 IS 

cans to serve in the United States Army during peacetime; 

Whereas, in the history of the United States, Buffalo Soldiers 

have made many significant military contributions and 

have fought to preserve and protect the United States; 

Whereas Buffalo Soldiers fought shoulder-to-shoulder with 

White soldiers in many battles; 

Whereas Buffalo Soldiers were instrumental in the exploration and settlement of land in the West; 

Whereas Buffalo Soldiers participated in the tragic history of 

removing Native Americans from the land on which Native Americans lived; 

Whereas Native Americans in the Midwest bestowed the nickname ‘‘Buffalo Soldiers’’ to the members of the 9th and 

10th cavalry regiments for— 

(1) the bravery and courage that the members exhibited; and 

(2) the jackets of buffalo fur that the members wore 

during the cold winter months; 

Whereas the Buffalo Soldiers rode alongside Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders in Cuba during the SpanishAmerican War; 

Whereas Buffalo Soldiers were among the first park rangers 

to serve in the newly created National Park Service 

under President Theodore Roosevelt; 

Whereas Buffalo Soldiers from the 9th, 10th, 24th, and 25th 

regiments served in Yosemite National Park and Sequoia 

National Park and helped arrest poachers, fight forest 

fires, and preserve the natural resources of the United 

States; 


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•SRES 409 IS 

Whereas, serving nobly as park rangers, Buffalo Soldiers— 

(1) constructed in Yosemite National Park one of 

the first arboretums in the United States; 

(2) cleared miles of forest; 

(3) built trail roads into national parks for the enjoyment of all people in the United States; and 

(4) helped build the first trail to the summit of 

Mount Whitney in Sequoia National Park; 

Whereas Buffalo Soldiers were subjected to racial prejudice 

but continued— 

(1) to serve honorably and bravely in the United 

States Army; and 

(2) to fulfill the duties conferred on them with pride 

and distinction; 

Whereas, earning a reputation for being courageous and daring— 

(1) more than 200,000 African Americans served in 

World War I; and 

(2) more than 1,000,000 African Americans served 

in World War II; 

Whereas during World War II, Buffalo Soldiers branched out 

and formed other famous units, including the famed 

Tuskegee Airmen and the Fighter ‘‘Red Tails’’ Group; 

Whereas 23 Buffalo Soldiers have received the highest military distinction of the Congressional Medal of Honor; 

Whereas, in 1948, President Harry Truman signed Executive 

Order 9981, which— 

(1) stipulated equal treatment and opportunity for 

all African-American service members; and 

(2) brought an end to the Buffalo Soldiers; 


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•SRES 409 IS 

Whereas Buffalo Soldiers have honorably answered the call to 

duty, serving with great valor and distinction in the 

armed forces of the United States; 

Whereas the Buffalo Soldiers are a significant part of the 

history of the United States; and 

Whereas there are currently over 20 chapters of the 9th and 

10th Cavalry Association in the United States and one in 

Germany: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) honors the dedication and courage of the 

3 Buffalo Soldiers; 

4 (2) recognizes the legacy of the Buffalo Sol5 diers; and 

6 (3) recognizes the contributions that the Buf7 falo Soldiers have made to the National Park Sys8 tem and to military history in the United States and 

9 throughout the world. 

Æ 


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