Base museum hosts Buffalo Soldier presentation

Photo By Senior Airman Jason Wiese | John Langellier, Ph.D., consulting historian, poses in the Warren ICBM & Heritage Museum on F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., June 1, 2016, in front of a display case housing Buffalo Soldier artifacts such as uniform items and photographs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jason Wiese)  

F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, WY, UNITED STATES

06.01.2016

Story by Senior Airman Jason Wiese 

90th Missile Wing

John Langellier, Ph.D., consulting historian, delivered a presentation in which he described the history and exploits of the Buffalo Soldiers, U.S. soldiers in all-black units in the post-Civil War era prior to desegregation of the U.S. military in 1948.

“Twenty-five people learned more about the military and our base heritage,” said Paula Taylor, 90th Missile Wing museum director.

Tech. Sgt. Gail Wells, a guest at the event, said the presentation was very well put-together and delivered.

“He definitely makes history very interesting,” Wells said. “I was glad he spoke about more than just what [Buffalo Soldiers] did here.”

While Buffalo Soldiers were known by their enemies, and peers alike, as skilled professionals and fierce warriors, there is much more to them than that reputation, Langellier said.

“My emphasis was on some things people might consider unusual or that they might not think about, like using bicycles for mobility and being the forerunners to the National Park Service rangers,” he said.

F.E. Warren is the oldest continuously active installation in the U.S. military, and spent more than half its existence as an Army installation. During its tenure, a complement of Buffalo Soldiers from the 9th and 10th Cavalry units was stationed here in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Langellier said he has been at speaking engagements recently to help honor and celebrate the Buffalo Soldiers since 2016 marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Buffalo Soldiers.

Taylor said the presentation was very timely because the base will be celebrating the Joint Service Combined Multicultural Observation Event, which will celebrate the diversity of the U.S. military.

Langellier plans on visiting the base again in August to give another historical presentation.

For more information about the Buffalo soldiers, visit https://www.nps.gov/prsf/learn/historyculture/buffalo-soldiers.htm.

• Date Taken: 06.01.2016
• Date Posted: 06.03.2016 16:52
• Story ID: 199914
• Location: F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, WY, US