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CNN Live Saturday
Buffalo Soldiers Have Evolved
Aired January 10, 2004 - 12:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, ANCHOR: And back in Iraq, the U.S. 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers have a long history of military service. Despite continued discrimination after the Civil War, the unit helped tame the American West.
Now in Iraq, today's Buffalo Soldiers are just as dedicated.
CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. Army Sergeant Vincent Fullard might be built like an ox, but he is a buffalo soldier. More on that in a minute. Right now his 110th Cavalry is packing up camp.
VINCENT FULLARD, BUFFALO SOLDIER: We're tearing it down so we can build it up again wherever we go.
VAN MARSH: While many troops have settled into Saddam's former palaces, this is the Buffalo Soldiers' 16th major move in Iraq since the U.S. invasion.
CHRISTOPHER HARMON, BUFFALO SOLDIER: We're ready to go anywhere, do whatever we have to do.
VAN MARSH: It's been that way since 1866, when the 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers were the first black military unit, segregated units, that served in America's post Civil War West.
Their mission, to secure settlers from native Americans. Their commanders were white men.
Today the Buffalo Soldiers are integrated. Their mission, securing central Iraq for other troops to follow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll go where we're told, and we will win where we fight.
VAN MARSH: Their commander is Lt. Col. Reginald Allen.
LT. COL. REGINALD ALLEN, BUFFALO SOLDIER COMMANDER: The incredible thing about the Buffalo Soldiers, especially the ones that served early on, is that they loved this country this country enough that, through the racism, through the bigotry, that they still wanted to serve.
And they wanted to better themselves and serve the nation.
VAN MARSH (on camera): With or despite the Buffalo Soldiers' rich history, Lieutenant Colonel Reginald Allen is the first African- American to command the 10th Cavalry in combat.
(voice-over) From nighttime raids to full blown combat, Allen's troops have been through some of the most remote and inhospitable parts of Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So they are, in true cavalry fashion, have moved and been moved to the sound of the guns.
VAN MARSH: Buffalo Soldiers say the unit's legacy is inspiration.
LEON JAMES O'CONNELL, BUFFALO SOLDIER: It does give me pride. Now we're integrated. And just shows how America has changed over the amount of time.
VAN MARSH: Alphonso Van Marsh, CNN, near Tikrit, Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 10, 2004 - 12:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, ANCHOR: And back in Iraq, the U.S. 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers have a long history of military service. Despite continued discrimination after the Civil War, the unit helped tame the American West.
Now in Iraq, today's Buffalo Soldiers are just as dedicated.
CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. Army Sergeant Vincent Fullard might be built like an ox, but he is a buffalo soldier. More on that in a minute. Right now his 110th Cavalry is packing up camp.
VINCENT FULLARD, BUFFALO SOLDIER: We're tearing it down so we can build it up again wherever we go.
VAN MARSH: While many troops have settled into Saddam's former palaces, this is the Buffalo Soldiers' 16th major move in Iraq since the U.S. invasion.
CHRISTOPHER HARMON, BUFFALO SOLDIER: We're ready to go anywhere, do whatever we have to do.
VAN MARSH: It's been that way since 1866, when the 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers were the first black military unit, segregated units, that served in America's post Civil War West.
Their mission, to secure settlers from native Americans. Their commanders were white men.
Today the Buffalo Soldiers are integrated. Their mission, securing central Iraq for other troops to follow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll go where we're told, and we will win where we fight.
VAN MARSH: Their commander is Lt. Col. Reginald Allen.
LT. COL. REGINALD ALLEN, BUFFALO SOLDIER COMMANDER: The incredible thing about the Buffalo Soldiers, especially the ones that served early on, is that they loved this country this country enough that, through the racism, through the bigotry, that they still wanted to serve.
And they wanted to better themselves and serve the nation.
VAN MARSH (on camera): With or despite the Buffalo Soldiers' rich history, Lieutenant Colonel Reginald Allen is the first African- American to command the 10th Cavalry in combat.
(voice-over) From nighttime raids to full blown combat, Allen's troops have been through some of the most remote and inhospitable parts of Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So they are, in true cavalry fashion, have moved and been moved to the sound of the guns.
VAN MARSH: Buffalo Soldiers say the unit's legacy is inspiration.
LEON JAMES O'CONNELL, BUFFALO SOLDIER: It does give me pride. Now we're integrated. And just shows how America has changed over the amount of time.
VAN MARSH: Alphonso Van Marsh, CNN, near Tikrit, Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
