M1917 Enfield Picture of the Day

Buffalo Soldiers WW1

The Singing Buffalo Soldiers

Sources disagree on how the nickname "Buffalo Soldiers" began. According to the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, the name originated with the Cheyenne warriors in 1867, the actual Cheyenne translation being "Wild Buffalo." However, writer Walter Hill documented the account of Colonel Benjamin Grierson, who founded the 10th Cavalry regiment, recalling an 1871 campaign against the Comanche tribe. Hill attributed the origin of the name to the Comanche due to Grierson's assertions. There is some controversy as to where the name originated. Some sources assert that the nickname was given out of respect for the fierce fighting ability of the 10th cavalry.[5] Other sources assert that Native Americans called the black cavalry troops "buffalo soldiers" because of their dark curly hair, which resembled a buffalo's coat.[6] Still other sources point to a combination of both legends.[7] The term Buffalo Soldiers became a generic term for all African-American soldiers. It is now used for U.S. Army units that trace their direct lineage back to the 9th and 10th Cavalry, units whose bravery earned them an honored place in U.S. history. Courtesy of WikiPedia

And Pershing got the nickname "blackjack" because of his command of black troops.
These were crack troops mainly because of the racial prejudice in the 19th century. White officers assigned to those units, trained them hard so that they could be transferred to command white units later in their career.

Roosevelt never would have made it up Kettle Hill if it was not for the covering fire of the 10th Cavalry.

I guess San Juan hill sounded better to the press, but that was the second hill they took not the first.