" THE JOURNEY HOME "

AUGUST, 1866:     The day is bright and clear with the first hint of
approaching Fall in the air. The city is already a beehive
of activity with cargo being moved on the docks or transported through the
streets to businesses. Finely crafted carriages transporting elegantly
dressed ladies and gentlemen, being pulled by a single or beautifully
matched pair of Hackenys or Thoroughbreds. Big strong, fine Percheron or Belgium
Draft horses pulling heavy freight wagons. People strolling here and there
with ladies sporting outfits copied or imported from France and their dainty
parasols perched rakishly on one shoulder, some being escorted by dapper
southern gentlemen in their stylishly cut frock coats and chapeau's, or
mounted on pure-bred Tennessee Walkers or Missouri Foxtrotters. Elegantly
designed buildings with the architecture reminding one of Paris, France; the
French influence evident  prevalent where ever you turn. 

Into this daily routine of 1866 New Orleans, strides a well-proportioned Gentleman in the
Dark Blue uniform of a Colonel of Cavalry in the United States Army. He is
tall, middle-aged, handsome figure of a man with almost iron-grey hair and
mustache, neatly trimmed and shaped. He is ramrod straight and walks with
the peculiar "rolling" stride of the consummate horseman. The man is Colonel
EDWARD HATCH.

In the inside pocket of his coat, are documents from the Congress of
the United States (signed by the President), with Orders from the Secretary Of
War, Edwin Stanton and the Commander of the Department of the Gulf, Major
General Phillip H. "Little Phil," Sheridan of Civil War fame. Edward Hatch
has been ordered to form and take command of, the first of two brand new
U.S. Army Cavalry Regiments: the 9th Regiment of United States Cavalry. 

He knows this will be a difficult assignment but he is known for getting the "job
done," no matter what it is. This new Regiment will be very unique in that
ALL of the Sergeants and Privates will be Americans of African descent while
the Officers will be all white, mostly with service in the recent Civil War
(1861-1865). As the Colonel walks into his Headquarters offices, his Staff
comes to rigid attention. Present are Lieutenant Colonel WESLEY MERRITT,
(2nd in command), Majors A.J. ALEXANDER, JAMES F. WADE, G.A. FORSYTH;
Captains BRISBIN, GAMBLE, GREELY, CLARK; 1ST Lieutenants HAMILTON and STRONG;
2nd Lieutenants BEYER , BUCKLIN and MOORE. These men are unique in that they
have commanded Volunteer black troops during the Civil War, and they know the
courage, ferocity and devotion of that race of men that they are about to begin
training to become the U.S. ARMYS FIRST ALL-BLACK REGULAR SOLDIERS. On
August 5, 1866, the first man to enlist is Private GEORGE WASHINGTON,
assigned to Company "A".

And so begins the history of one of the most outstanding,
hardest-fighting Regiments ever to exist in the U.S. Army, then OR now, the
9th REGIMENT of UNITED STATES CAVALRY, soon to earn the respected title of
'BUFFALO SOLDIERS.'  For 26 years of the Indian Wars period, these black men
in blue uniforms, rode, mapped, fought, bled, suffered and died, to clear
the way for American Civilization to advance and take hold in the lands west of
the Mississippi River. Some of the great Chiefs of the Indian Nations, such
as Geronimo, Juh, Cochise, Roman Nose, Satank, Satanta, Victorio, Nana, just
to name a few, came against the 9th. Sometimes they won the battle but
eventually losing the war. From West Texas and Arizona, to New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah, the Officers and Men
of the 9th Cavalry perform their duty admirably. Fighting and subduing the
Native American was a hard, heart-breaking task but the 9th did the job with
Honor, Dignity and Respect for another race of brave Warriors. 

At the end of the Indian Wars, in 1898, another cry went out from another people being
oppressed by the old Spanish Empire. From the tiny island of Cuba, came the
heart-wrenching plea for freedom and liberty. The United States heard and
answered this call and put its relatively new military arm against centuries
old Spanish power to liberate these people. The 9th Cavalry, stationed at
Fort Robinson, Nebraska, were among the first Regiments called  to fight on
foreign soil, marking the first time the U.S. military would send its
"native-sons" abroad in the cause of freedom, justice, and liberty.

During that short little war, America became recognized as a beginning
World Power to be reckoned  with. Colonel Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt (later,
President of the United States), and his 1st Volunteer Cavalry (the "Rough
Riders"), marched into glory and history at the charge up San Juan Hill.
Little did we know, then OR now, that it was because of the fighting ability
and "Esprit-De-Corps"  of the four all-black Regiments (9th & 10th Cavalry,
24th & 25th Infantry), that put the United States firmly on the path to
becoming that World Power we know today. Their heroic charges and battles at
Santiago, El Caney, El Pozo and San Juan Hill, should have forever placed
them in our visible history as among the "Cream" of American Fighting Men.
Sadly, due to their greatest enemy,  racial prejudice, this was not to be.

From August of 1866 to August of 1992, the memory and deeds of these men has
been tucked away, with only a few "stirrings" here and there, but never
being fully appreciated nor remembered. 

In August of 1992, a specialized Heavy/Long-haul truck driver and former Army Drill Sergeant, moved to
Phoenix, AZ from Grand Rapids, Michigan with his Wife and Brother-in-law, to
become a Master Machinist to enhance his skills as a Master Gunsmith. This
was the small family of William and Sheryl McCurtis and Arthur Ragland. By 1994,
Arthur had become fatally ill due to his service in Vietnam. William, also a
Vietnam-era veteran, with service as a Tank Commander in Germany facing the
then Soviet Armored threat, had vowed to take care of his fellow
comrade-in-arms. In the same year, Sheryl obtained membership in a small
organization called the Arizona 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers. Arthur
couldn't be active, due to his illness, but he was an avid and fervent
supporter. This group changed William's (better known as Bill), life forever.
After learning of the 9th U.S. Cavalry, Bill wondered why no one ever
mentioned them and he then determined to help obtain the well-deserved and
long overdue recognition to which they were entitled. 

For the next 7 years, Bill, Sheryl and Arthur committed everything they had to this goal. In 1997,
former U.S. Army Specialist 4th Class, Arthur Ragland, recipient of the
PURPLE HEART, quietly passed away and was laid to rest in the Veterans
National Cemetary in Phoenix, AZ. His physical pain and disabilities over,
"Art" is again with his buddies of his outfit.

The organization these people, along with Commander/Dr. Lawrence Jeff
Gaskin of the National Health Service, has accomplished things that would
seem impossible to do. For example, HEADQUARTERS TROOP, 9TH MEMORIAL CAVALRY
are;

(1). Permanent Honor/Color Guard for the annual National Festival Of The
West founded  by 9th Cavalry LADIES OF THE REGIMENT member MARY BROWN.

(2). Permanent Honor/Color Guard and Escort to the Annual GOLDEN BOOT AWARDS
held  each year in Hollywood California and founded by Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Gene Autry and Pat Burtram.

(3). Memorial Day, 2001, Falcon Air Field, Phoenix, Arizona, chosen as the
special Honor Guard for PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, George Bush, Jr.

(4). Working with Mr. Lionel Delarosa to construct a monument to the 9th
Cavalry, commemorating their service from inception to Vietnam. SSG. De Larosa
was a Door-Gunner in that service, with the 9th and was Honorably
discharged.

"Bill" McCurtis, as the President and Regimental Sergeant Major, is a
"stickler" for authenticity, accuracy, truth and honesty in anything the
organization does and "woe be unto he who runs afoul of the Sergeant
Major!"

He is a man that should have been born 136 years ago in the Old West. He
oftens states that although the uniform style and color has changed and the
weapons are becoming more and more sophisticated, the basic human soldier
has never changed. He complains about the same things now as he did during the
Revolutionary War and his activities are basically the same when it comes to
relaxation. He urges "professional historians" that are going to write about
soldiers and wars and the military in general, to do more than look in the
books or some papers. Go to those that have "gone through the fire and
survived," THEN and ONLY THEN, write your book or express your opinion. 

Don't assume that CONGRESSIONAL MEDALS OF HONOR are "won,"  because your
assumptions are playing with lives that have been lost IN THE CAUSE OF
FREEDOM AND LIBERTY and those men don't deserve to be disrespected and
played with, as if war is a game like Baseball.  

"I don' t know of one recipient of the C. M. H., that ever wanted to "win" that medal or even have it in their
possession. That Medal represents Friends and Comrades that you can NEVER
share a smoke or a joke or family memories with again because their lives
are no more. You and ONLY you, are left with the memories … and  the "MEDAL"… to the end of YOUR days."

Sergeant Major McCurtis is quick to make people aware that the 9th
Memorial Cavalry is not an organization of re-enactors, for which he has a
tremendous respect, but rather that the  members are Living Historians with a long, hard
job of teaching true history and correcting mistakes in perceptions about
the black troops. The 9th Mem. Cav., is a multi-cultural organization with the
women (LADIES OF THE REGIMENT), having the advantage of having diversity in
portraying the people and time period of the 1800's that they choose. The
men are mostly former and Present Active Duty Military from all branches of the
service. The feeling among both men and women is that of repaying a debt.

"We owe the men and Officers of the Buffalo Soldier Regiments a dept of undying
gratitude and thanks for making it possible for us to serve our country
today. For without them stepping up and becoming the first black REGULAR
troops, we, quite possibly, would still be fighting for the right to fight
for our country. Definitely, without those old Buffalo Soldiers, we also
would probably not have had a Black American of African descent as head of
our entire military forces. Therefore, we MUST pass this incredible legacy
on and ensure it is never hidden or forgotten again."

The 9th Memorial Cavalry is stepping up to the challenge. On SEPTEMBER
1, 2002, on the grounds of the State Capitol Building in Phoenix, Arizona.
Sergeant Major McCurtis and five other members will began the more the 2,200
mile horse-back trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, called, THE JOURNEY HOME.
These men will be transporting labeled soil samples from the graves of
original 9th Cavalrymen as can be located, and a copy of the Regimental
Flag, to be presented to the city of the regiments "birth." New Orleans,
Louisiana.

The 9th Memorial Cavalry is a tax-exempt  (501 [C} 3) , organization and can
accept donations both financial and material. Says McCurtis; " although we
have the tax-exempt status, we have never asked for help, always coming out
of our own pocket to do any event. Why? Because the men of the 9th never
asked for, nor depended on , help from anyone other than themselves and the
units that served with them because the help just wasn't there. We have that
came characteristic. We realize that the west is settled now and it will be
a difficult journey and expensive beyond our present means. Our horses, for
example, provided by long-time valley resident and cowboy, Robbie
Richardson, are rental animals and they have to be taken care of above all else. Anyone
that can come out and visit with us along the route, especially the
children, are more than welcome."

If at all possible, please leave a donation to help them with expenses.
Those that want to ride with them for a while to be a part of the
once-in-a-lifetime, historical event are asked for a donation of about
$150.00 per day. Rules, Regulations and Conditions are available from their
office in Phoenix. Please call ahead of time to make your arrangements. The
9th Memorial Cavalry will be going over ground that the old 9th Cavalry
rode and fought upon; especially in New Mexico and Texas. Any help: Fire, Law
enforcement, medical (human and animal), etc. are more than welcomed and
appreciated.


Contact. Info:                       William "Bill" McCurtis, President
                                            Hq. Troop, 9th Memorial Cavalry
                                            17655 W. Wolcott Ln
                                            Marana, Arizona 85653
                                            Phone: 520-616-9277
                                            Cell: 602-373-6843 
                                            E-mail:   ninthcaval@aol.com
                                            Web site:   www.9thcavalry.com



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