IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1105 
Honoring the Buffalo Soldiers who were dishonorably discharged and ulti-
mately had their honorable service restored following events which oc-
curred in 1906 in Brownsville, Texas. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 
Mr. VELA submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Honoring the Buffalo Soldiers who were dishonorably dis-
charged and ultimately had their honorable service re-
stored following events which occurred in 1906 in 
Brownsville, Texas. 
Whereas, on July 28, 1866, Congress established six all- 
Black regiments, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, to help 
rebuild the country after the Civil War and to patrol the 
remote western frontier during the Indian Wars and re-
mained active until the Army was desegregated in 1951; 
Whereas the Buffalo Soldiers received their name because of 
the buffalo’s fierce bravery and fighting spirit; 
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•HRES 1105 IH 
Whereas the Buffalo Soldiers fought alongside White regi-
ments in many conflicts and were instrumental in the ex-
ploration and settlement of western lands; 
Whereas Buffalo Soldiers were assigned to Fort Brown near 
the United States-Mexico border in 1906; 
Whereas following the death of a White bartender, 167 men 
serving in the all-Black 25th Infantry Regiment of the 
Army were dishonorably discharged by President Theo-
dore Roosevelt after being accused of shooting up the city 
of Brownsville, Texas, and the killing of a White man; 
Whereas these Buffalo Soldiers were not given a chance to 
defend themselves in legal proceedings and there was no 
evidence of these soldiers committing any crimes; 
Whereas the dishonorable discharge of the Buffalo Soldiers 
led to the loss of their pensions and inability to serve in 
Federal civil service jobs; 
Whereas the members of the 25th Infantry Regiment were 
accused of this shooting following growing tension be-
tween the White residents of Brownsville and the Black 
soldiers, making this accusation racially charged; 
Whereas, in 1972, the Army conducted a new investigation 
and withdrew the order of 1906, exonerating the Buffalo 
Soldiers and restoring their records to show that each left 
military service with an honorable discharge; and 
Whereas only one out of 167 Buffalo Soldiers falsely accused 
was alive by the time the original 1906 order was re-
versed, and no action was taken to provide compensation 
to their descendants: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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•HRES 1105 IH 
(1) honors the Buffalo Soldiers who were dis-
honorably discharged and ultimately had their hon-
orable service restored following events which oc-
curred in 1906 in Brownsville, Texas; 
(2) recognizes the dedication and courage of the 
Buffalo Soldiers serving in South Texas, across the 
country, and around the world; and 
(3) encourages all States to include in their 
educational curricula the history and contributions 
of the Buffalo Soldiers. 
Æ 
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