The Last Buffalo Soldier

Funeral Today For Dr. Wilbert Wilson, Last Of The Buffalo Soldiers
Location: Tulsa
Posted: July 16, 2007 10:35 AM EST
URL: [link to www.ktul.com]

Tulsa - Funeral services will be held this morning for Dr. Wilbert Wilson, the last of the Buffalo Soldiers, who passed away last week at age 86.

Wilson's unit, the 10th Cavalry, served during World War II, guarding the California-Mexico border from attempts by the Japanese to invade the country.

In recent years, Wilson spent his free time making appearances at area schools, educating children about the Buffalo Soldiers.

The name Buffalo Soldiers was given to troops of the all-black 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments during the Indian wars of the late 1800s. Because of the successes of the all-black regiments, President Harry S. Truman ordered the military to be integrated in 1948 and the 'Buffalo Soldiers' were disbanded.

Twenty-three of the Buffalo Soldiers went on to win the prestigious Medal of Honor. No other unit has won more.

Funeral services will be held this morning at 10 a.m. at Greater Grace Apostolic Temple. Wilson will then receive full military honors this afternoon at Fort Gibson National Cemetery, where he will be buried at 2 p.m.

An honor guard representing Post 15 of the American Legion will perform a rifle salute, followed by TAPS with echoes. A U.S. Army detail from Fort Sill will also be on hand to fold the American Flag and present it to Wilson's survivors.

Copyright 2007 KTUL, LLC.

I think I remember reading about his regiment, the 10th Cavalry, they were an actual horse cavalry unit, the last real cavalry which existed long after the rest of the cavalry had been disbanded. I remember reading about a reunion of them, I wonder if that was in the eighties.

Interesting that they had a horse cavalry unit to patrol the border, wonder if it would ever be a good idea to revive something like that?

Thank-you Mercury.

Buffalo soldier, dreadlock rasta:
There was a buffalo soldier in the heart of america,
Stolen from africa, brought to america,
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival.

I mean it, when I analyze the stench -
To me it makes a lot of sense:
How the dreadlock rasta was the buffalo soldier,
And he was taken from africa, brought to america,
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival.

Said he was a buffalo soldier, dreadlock rasta -
Buffalo soldier in the heart of america.

If you know your history,
Then you would know where you coming from,
Then you wouldnt have to ask me,
Who the eck do I think I am.

Im just a buffalo soldier in the heart of america,
Stolen from africa, brought to america,
Said he was fighting on arrival, fighting for survival;
Said he was a buffalo soldier win the war for america.

Dreadie, woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!
Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!
Buffalo soldier troddin through the land, wo-ho-ooh!
Said he wanna ran, then you wanna hand,
Troddin through the land, yea-hea, yea-ea.

Said he was a buffalo soldier win the war for america;
Buffalo soldier, dreadlock rasta,
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival;
Driven from the mainland to the heart of the caribbean.

Singing, woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!
Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!

Troddin through san juan in the arms of america;
Troddin through jamaica, a buffalo soldier# -
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival:
Buffalo soldier, dreadlock rasta.

Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!
Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy! /fadeout/

[link to www.nps.gov]
National Park Service
FORT DAVIS, TEXAS
National Historic Site
Links to Buffalo Soldiers History, etc.

The Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Davis, Texas
1867-1885
"BUFFALO SOLDIERS"
[link to www.nps.gov]

Hubby and I toured the park back in 2001. It's beautiful, and the setting was gorgeous. At the closing of the park in the late afternoon (around 5pm), they lowered the flag and sounded the bugle. Beautiful.

Oooh--- I just came from reading there.

A day to remember indeed.

The last line of the final chapter of beautiful soldiers of honor!

the murder of native women and children certainly deserves an award!!!!!!
they do not deserve that title,they misapppropriated it from those they killed!!!!!!

Look, you make a good point...but are you going to blame every single soldier in the history of the United States for following orders?

What this nation did to the Natives is horrible. There can be no denying it. If you want to hate someone for what was done, hate the men who ordered the expansion into the West.

You are not correct on the name, by the way. The Natives called the black troops "buffalo soldiers" because the black troops had very curly hair...very similar to the dense curly head on a buffalo.

As an aside...Are you going to hate the soldiers who return from Iraq? That war is illegal and immoral. HATE THE MEN WHO CREATE THE POLICY AND ISSUE THE ORDERS.

my apologies ma'am
your point is absorbed,thank you

Looks like another one turned up in Houston.

[link to www.click2houston.com (secure)]

hello astrotard,ive been to ft davis three times.the last time the door was unlocked on the observatory and i helped myself.nobody anywhere around.