Social History of the Tenth Cavalry, 1931-1941

A survey of the literature of the Tenth Cavalry revealed there was no history of the unit whi1e serving as a service detachment at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, between 1931-1941. This paper is an effort to establish the records of the unit's social activities for continuity of unit history especially those of black soldiers, serving in segregated units. The information for this study centered around material obtained from questionnaires and interviews with former members of the unit. Also, extensive use was made of the Leavenworth Times and the Armored Cavalry Journal. An effort was also made to set the scene by providing a brief overview of the black soldier's contribution to America's war efforts and a chronological history of the Tenth Cavalry from its inception in July 1866 to 1931. Between 1931-1941 while at Fort Leavenworth, the black troopers were either barred or discouraged from using many of the exchange and recreational facilities on post. Even so, they were loyal troopers who performed creditable service and were proud to be members of the Tenth Cavalry. The citizens of Leavenworth displayed a positive attitude toward the troopers which resulted in amenable relations during the occasional contact between the two societies. The unit was returned to combat status in 1941 and subsequently moved to Fort Riley, Kansas. Even though it has been many years since the troopers of the Tenth Cavalry departed, their memory still remains. The pride Fort Leavenworth still has in the Buffalo Soldiers was displayed in recent ceremonies where one of the streets on post was named for the famed Tenth Cavalry.