Since the colonial days, African Americans have proudly served in the military. During the Civil War, about 180,000 black soldiers bore arms for the Union. In 1866, through an act of Congress, legislation was adopted to allow African Americans to serve in the regular army. The law specifically set aside six all African-American army units. Two were identified as the 9th and 10th cavalries, and the remaining four were the 38th, 39th, 40th and 41st infantry regiments. Eventually, the four infantry regiments were reorganized to form the 24th and 25th infantry regiments.

Made up of former slaves, freemen and Civil War veterans, these brave men became known as the Buffalo Soldiers, the first black professional soldier unit in a peacetime army. The Buffalo Soldiers continued to participate in many other military campaigns well into the 20th century, including the Philippine Insurrection, the Mexican Expedition, World War I, World War II and the Korean Police Action.