Buffalo Soldiers African American Troops in the US forces 1866–1945

by Field, Ron; Bielakowski, Alexander

• ISBN13: 9781846033438
• ISBN10: 1846033438
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-11-18
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

This book covers the history of African American soldiers, beginning with the American Civil War and the Plains Wars, when they were nicknamed 'Buffalo Soldiers'. It then examines their role during the age of 'American Imperialism,' before distinguishing themselves in the trenches of World War I. Finally, it examines their participation in World War II, where almost half a million African Americans fought for their country, and the desegregation of the armed forces that followed.

Author Biography

Ron Field is Head of History at the Cotswold School in Bourton-on-the-Water. He was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 1982 and taught history at Piedmont High School in California from 1982 to 1983. He was associate editor of the Confederate Historical Society of Great Britain, from 1983 to 1992. He is an internationally acknowledged expert on US military history, and was elected a Fellow of the Company of Military Historians, based in Washington, DC, in 2005.

Alexander M. Bielakowski completed his Ph.D. in U.S. military history at Kansas State University. He has written several articles on various aspects of military history, with a special interest in horse cavalry during the 20th Century. In 2000 he attended the West Point Summer Seminar in Military History at the United States Military Academy, and served as a historical consultant and interviewee for the History Channel documentary "Animals in Action: Horses" (2002). Dr. Bielakowski is an Associate Professor of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Table of Contents

Introduction - a birth of freedom	p. 6
Chronology	p. 14
New Frontiers - Buffalo Soldiers: 1866-91	p. 20
Buffalo Soldiers: 1892-1941	p. 90
African American Troops in World War II	p. 156
Conclusion - Integration during the Cold War	p. 216
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

A FEMALE BUFFALO SOLDIER

November 15, 1867 marked a very interesting–and ultimately important–day. To the surprise of many today, and the ignorance of all on that particular day over 140 years ago, Cathay Williams was the first (and only) black female to join Company A, 38th Infantry. With the lack of a thorough physical examination, her masculine and powerful physique, and a decision to change her name to William Cathay, she was able to fool the recruiting officer.

Williams served in the 38th Infantry for the next two years, until she decided that she no longer wanted to be a soldier. A false illness and complaints of rheumatism resulted in another physical examination (this time quite thorough), and she got her discharge as quickly and easily as the permission to join the 38th Infantry.

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Excerpted from Buffalo Soldiers: African American Troops in the US Forces 1866-1945 by Ron Field, Alexander M. Bielakowski
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.