10th Cavalry Regiment Patch

They were born in the aftermath of the Civil War, forged from men who had waited a lifetime to prove their worth in uniform. In 1866, the U.S. Army created the 10th Cavalry Regiment, one of the original units of African American soldiers known to history—and to legend—as the Buffalo Soldiers. From their first days on the windswept plains of Kansas, the men of the 10th Cavalry wrote a story of courage, discipline, and unbreakable resolve that reshaped American military history.

The name “Buffalo Soldiers” was not one they chose—it was given to them by the Native American warriors they met on the frontier. Some say it honored their fierce fighting spirit; others say it reflected the respect earned in battle; still others believed it referred to the dark, thick hair many soldiers wore. Whatever its origins, the name became a badge of honor, marking a brotherhood that endured through hardship and prejudice alike.

On the Great Plains, the 10th Cavalry rode through dust storms, snow, and blistering heat, tasked with protecting settlers, guarding mail routes, and engaging hostile forces. They fought in the Indian Wars from the Texas frontier to New Mexico, often outnumbered and operating in brutal conditions. Time and again, they proved their mettle—charging into ambushes, rescuing surrounded units, and earning a reputation for reliability that no commander could ignore. Many troopers earned the Medal of Honor for acts of bravery that might have gone unrecorded were it not for the ferocity of their courage.

By the late 19th century, the 10th Cavalry’s reputation extended far beyond the frontier. During the Spanish–American War in 1898, they stormed the heights of San Juan alongside Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. When that battle hung in the balance, it was the disciplined advance of the Buffalo Soldiers that carried the day—charging uphill under murderous fire, driving the enemy from their positions, and proving once again that bravery knows no color.

In the years that followed, the 10th Cavalry served in the Philippines and on the Mexican border during the Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa. They patrolled hostile terrain, skirmished with insurgents, and endured hardships that would break lesser soldiers. Even as segregation limited their recognition at home, their reputation overseas grew stronger: dependable, relentless, and always ready.

By World War II, the nature of warfare had changed, but the regiment’s legacy endured. Elements of the 10th Cavalry transitioned into new roles, serving in armored units and supporting campaigns across Europe and the Pacific. Their story carried forward into the modern Army, where the Buffalo Soldier spirit remains alive in cavalry and armor units that trace their lineage directly to the 10th.

The 10th Cavalry Regiment patch honors this extraordinary heritage—men who overcame adversity with dignity, who fought with unmatched bravery, and whose legacy of excellence carved a permanent place in America’s military history. To wear it is to stand with the Buffalo Soldiers, guardians of a tradition built on courage, endurance, and honor.