Right Voices

Who were the real “Buffalo Soldiers“?

Nearly sixteen months after the end of the Civil War, Section 3 of an Act of Congress entitled “An Act to increase and fix the Military Peace Establishment of the United States” authorized the formation of two regiments of cavalry composed of “colored” men. The act was approved on 28 July 1866. On 21 September 1866, the 9th Cavalry Regiment was activated at Greenville, Louisiana, and the 10th Cavalry Regiment was activated at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Under the competent leadership of Colonels Edward Hatch and Benjamin Grierson, first Regimental Commanders of the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments, respectively, both regiments were trained and equipped and began a long and proud history.

For over two decades, the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments conducted campaigns against American Indian tribes on a Western Frontier that extended from Montana in the Northwest to Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the Southwest. They engaged in several skirmishes against such great Indian Chiefs as Victorio, Geronimo, and Nana. “Buffalo Soldiers” was the name given the black cavalrymen by the Plains Indians. Reason for the name is uncertain. One view is that when a buffalo was wounded or cornered, it fought ferociously, displaying unusual stamina and courage. This was the same fighting spirit Indians saw in combat with black cavalrymen. Since Indians held the buffalo in such high regard, it was felt that the name was not given in contempt.

Who does Hollywood think the “Buffalo Soldiers” were?

“The cannibalism of American soldiers enisled on foreign soil is one theme”

O’Connor (author of the book in which the Hollywood film is based) gleefully highlights the nonstop racial warfare, back-stabbing careerism, the cluelessness and ennui of fighting men stewing in a land where they don’t speak the language and don’t really like the people they’ve been enlisted to protect.”

But the most daring part of both book and movie is that the story is narrated by Spc. Ray Elwood, played by Joaquin Phoenix. A drug dealer with a death wish (James Ellroy calls him “Sgt. Bilko on scag”), Elwood is ostensibly a neutral observer scamming his way through the service until he can go home. But his quietly jeering contempt for the Army is bone-deep and his passivity destructive. He cares not at all who gets hurt by his ruses, which are anything but charmingly innocent, like Bilko’s ploys to organize a barrack’s crap game.

“In a particularly gruesome scene, two soldiers hauling heavy-duty weapons, including handheld rockets, are killed in an accident caused by a tank crew high on drugs. Elwood happens upon the wreckage while riding with his chums and, eyeing two charred bodies, sees an opportunity. He convinces his reluctant pals to sell the truck’s lethal contents on the black market – and then argues they should trade arms for a monster shipment of heroin, a tip of the hat to rumored Contra deals during the Reagan era.

This film has been sitting on a shelf since 2000. The release date has been changed five times for various reasons. Miramax is said to be nervous about releasing this overly controversial film post 9-11 and with our troops serving in Iraq, yet they won’t scrap the project due to money they’ve spent in production.

Studios need to understand that there are times scrapping a project is the right thing to do no matter no costs.