February is Black History Month and is a good time to recall the vast contributions African Americans have made throughout the nation’s military history. Most are aware of the Tuskegee Airmen and their heroic contributions during World War II. Some may be familiar with the Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry Regiments (later consolidated and renamed 24th and 25th Infantry) that fought during the Indian Wars and performed a primary role in America’s western expansion following the Civil War. But there are many more examples of African American military contributions in the defense of this nation.
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