Bill 4473

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       4473
Type of Legislation:               Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:                  House
Introduced Date:                   19980122
Primary Sponsor:                   Govan
All Sponsors:                      Govan, Breeland, J. Brown,
                                   T. Brown, Byrd, Canty, Cave,
                                   Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Gourdine,
                                   J. Hines, M. Hines, Howard,
                                   Inabinett, Kennedy, Lee, Lloyd,
                                   McMahand, Mack, Moody-Lawrence,
                                   Neal, Pinckney, Scott, F. Smith and
                                   Whipper 
Drafted Document Number:           pt\1604dw.98
Residing Body:                     House
Current Committee:                 Invitations and Memorial
                                   Resolutions Committee 24 HIMR
Subject:                           Buffalo Soldier Day; February
                                   20, 1998; Resolutions

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

House   19980122  Introduced, referred to Committee        24 HIMR

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE SINCERE GRATITUDE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE OF THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS AND TO DECLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1998, AS "BUFFALO SOLDIER DAY" IN HONOR OF THE SIGNIFICANCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THESE BRAVE HEROES TO THEIR COUNTRY AND TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

Whereas, Black Americans have fought heroically in every major conflict in the United States, even during the Indian wars and American Revolution; and

Whereas, legend has it that the first Buffalo Soldiers were named so by Native Americans because their hair and fierce fighting spirit reminded Native Americans of the great buffalo which they revered; and

Whereas, in 1867, Congress created four black regiments: the 9th U.S. Calvary, 10th U.S. Calvary, 24th U.S. Infantry, and 25th U.S. Infantry, which we now know as Buffalo Soldiers. These soldiers were sent West by Congress to protect settlements, railroad workers, and to build roads and set up telegraphs. They were also responsible for rediscovering and mapping huge plots of unknown territory, particular in the Southwest; and

Whereas, nearly two hundred thousand Black Americans served in the Union Army during the Civil War and more than thirty-three thousand of them died on Civil War battlefields; and

Whereas, the Buffalo Soldiers had a far lower desertion rate than white soldiers during the same period, and a far lower rate of alcoholism; and

Whereas, the Medal of Honor, established during the Civil War era and sometimes commonly referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor, is the highest distinction a soldier may earn for battlefield valor; and

Whereas, the Buffalo Soldiers of the Old West earned twenty-five Medals of Honor during their tenure; and

Whereas, black soldiers who fought in World War I were denied the Medal of Honor, despite the fact that during World War I, black soldiers were highly decorated by the French for their heroic battlefield deeds. Seventy years after World War I, Corporal Freddie Stowers was given the Medal of Honor posthumously; and

Whereas, during World War II black soldiers were still segregated by race and again became known as the Buffalo Soldiers. The buffalo became the mascot of the segregated troops during World War II; and

Whereas, more than one million black soldiers were involved in World War II, of them fifty thousand saw combat. But none received the Medal of Honor, until 1997, fifty-two years after World War II; and

Whereas, on January 13, 1997, during a White House Ceremony in the East Room, fifty-two years after their World War II service, seven black World War II veterans were presented the Medal of Honor; and

Whereas, Vernon J. Baker was the only living black World War II veteran to receive the Medal of Honor. The other six black World War II veterans recognized on January 13, 1997, were deceased at the time of the ceremony; and

Whereas, the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers lingers not only in Vernon Baker's valor, but also in the fact that the first two blacks to become generals in the United States Army came from the ranks of the World War II Buffalo Division. Vernon Baker trained one of those men, Major General James F. Hamlet, in combat; and

Whereas, some of the oldest and best known black universities, Howard, Hampton, and Fisk, for example, were founded by Union generals. Lincoln University in Missouri was started with money donated by enlisted men from the Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops after the Civil War; and

Whereas, it is appropriate for the members of the General Assembly to pause in their deliberations, to extend to the Buffalo Soldiers and their families their full support and appreciation for their unselfish acts of loyalty, dedication, and commitment to the citizens of the United States of America and our Palmetto State. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, express their sincere gratitude for the distinguished service of the Buffalo Soldiers and to declare Friday, February 20, 1998, as "Buffalo Soldier Day" in honor of the significance and contributions of these brave heroes to their country and to the State of South Carolina during Black History month.