Photos: Buffalo Soldier Monument and Circle of Firsts
Fort Leavenworth is home to the Buffalo Soldier Monument as well as the Circle of Firsts statue garden honoring Black military members who broke barriers. Over 100 Buffalo Soldiers are buried at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.Whitney Beiler
"Built by those who cherish the spirit, courage and valor of the Buffalo Soldiers." Groundbreaking July 28, 1990Whitney Beiler
"Built by those who cherish the spirit, courage and valor of the Buffalo Soldiers." Groundbreaking July 28, 1990Whitney Beiler
Buffalo Soldiers Monument and Circle of Firsts at Fort Leavenworth. Constituted July 28, 1866 in the regular Army. Organized at Fort Leavenworth. Inactivated March 20, 1944 in North Africa. Ordered integrated December 1952. Active in the Indian War, Philippine insurrection, war with Spain, Mexican Expedition and World War II.Whitney Beiler
Buffalo Soldiers Monument overlooks a large fountain and park.Whitney Beiler
First commanding officer. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was a segregated, all-Black unit from 1945-1946. At full strength, it consisted of 855 women. Their mission was to support the war and lift morale by sorting and redirecting mail and they broke all records in doing so. Awarded the Women's Army Corps Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. This battalion also raised money for burials for 3 members and donated more than $4,500 to the United Negro College Fund.Whitney Beiler
First commanding officer. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was a segregated, all-Black unit from 1945-1946. At full strength, it consisted of 855 women. Their mission was to support the war and lift morale by sorting and redirecting mail and they broke all records in doing so. Awarded the Women's Army Corps Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. This battalion also raised money for burials for 3 members and donated more than $4,500 to the United Negro College Fund.Whitney Beiler
First commanding officer. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was a segregated, all-Black unit from 1945-1946. At full strength, it consisted of 855 women. Their mission was to support the war and lift morale by sorting and redirecting mail and they broke all records in doing so. Awarded the Women's Army Corps Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. This battalion also raised money for burials for 3 members and donated more than $4,500 to the United Negro College Fund.Whitney Beiler
First commanding officer. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was a segregated, all-Black unit from 1945-1946. At full strength, it consisted of 855 women. Their mission was to support the war and lift morale by sorting and redirecting mail and they broke all records in doing so. Awarded the Women's Army Corps Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. This battalion also raised money for burials for 3 members and donated more than $4,500 to the United Negro College Fund.Whitney Beiler
Dedicated to the first Black parachute infantry. They were placed on the Army rolls in February of 1943.Whitney Beiler
Dedicated to the first Black parachute infantry. They were placed on the Army rolls in February of 1943.Whitney Beiler
"These great paratroopers walked point for their race and for our country, facing down discrimination by standing in the door as one and jumping into our nation's history." LTG David PetraeusWhitney Beiler
"These great paratroopers walked point for their race and for our country, facing down discrimination by standing in the door as one and jumping into our nation's history." LTG David PetraeusWhitney Beiler
General Roscoe Robinson, Jr. Born in 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Combat tours in Korea and Vietnam. Awarded Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal(2), Silver Star(2), Legion of Merit(3), Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal(11), Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge(2), Master Parachutist Badge.Whitney Beiler
General Roscoe Robinson, Jr. Born in 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Combat tours in Korea and Vietnam. Awarded Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal(2), Silver Star(2), Legion of Merit(3), Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal(11), Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge(2), Master Parachutist Badge.Whitney Beiler
General Roscoe Robinson, Jr. Born in 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Combat tours in Korea and Vietnam. Awarded Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal(2), Silver Star(2), Legion of Merit(3), Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal(11), Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge(2), Master Parachutist Badge.Whitney Beiler
29-years of military service. Master musician who wrote music for Abraham Lincoln's 1860 campaign. Saved MG W.T. Sherman. Advocated equal treatment for Blacks and Native Americans.Whitney Beiler
29-years of military service. Master musician who wrote music for Abraham Lincoln's 1860 campaign. Saved MG W.T. Sherman. Advocated equal treatment for Blacks and Native Americans.Whitney Beiler
29-years of military service. Master musician who wrote music for Abraham Lincoln's 1860 campaign. Saved MG W.T. Sherman. Advocated equal treatment for Blacks and Native Americans.Whitney Beiler
29-years of military service. Master musician who wrote music for Abraham Lincoln's 1860 campaign. Saved MG W.T. Sherman. Advocated equal treatment for Blacks and Native Americans.Whitney Beiler
Advisor to President Ronald Reagan. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. Secretary of State for President George W. Bush. First Black in each of those positions. Originator and driving force behind Buffalo Soldier Monument. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom(2), Congressional Gold Medal, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Honorary British Knighthood, KCB French Legion D'Honneur, Grand Cross Order of Jamaica.Whitney Beiler
Advisor to President Ronald Reagan. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. Secretary of State for President George W. Bush. First Black in each of those positions. Originator and driving force behind Buffalo Soldier Monument. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom(2), Congressional Gold Medal, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Honorary British Knighthood, KCB French Legion D'Honneur, Grand Cross Order of Jamaica.Whitney Beiler
Advisor to President Ronald Reagan. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. Secretary of State for President George W. Bush. First Black in each of those positions. Originator and driving force behind Buffalo Soldier Monument. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom(2), Congressional Gold Medal, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Honorary British Knighthood, KCB French Legion D'Honneur, Grand Cross Order of Jamaica.Whitney Beiler
Advisor to President Ronald Reagan. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. Secretary of State for President George W. Bush. First Black in each of those positions. Originator and driving force behind Buffalo Soldier Monument. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom(2), Congressional Gold Medal, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Honorary British Knighthood, KCB French Legion D'Honneur, Grand Cross Order of Jamaica.Whitney Beiler
Buffalo Soldiers Monument and Circle of Firsts at Fort LeavenworthWhitney Beiler
First Black to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy in 1877. Special Agent in the U.S. Justice Department, Interpreter and Translator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Dismissed from service unjustly in 1881. Received a Presidential Pardon in 1999 and the first Presidential Pardon to be granted posthumously.Whitney Beiler
First Black to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy in 1877. Special Agent in the U.S. Justice Department, Interpreter and Translator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Dismissed from service unjustly in 1881. Received a Presidential Pardon in 1999 and the first Presidential Pardon to be granted posthumously.Whitney Beiler
First Black to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy in 1877. Special Agent in the U.S. Justice Department, Interpreter and Translator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Dismissed from service unjustly in 1881. Received a Presidential Pardon in 1999 and the first Presidential Pardon to be granted posthumously.Whitney Beiler