9th Memorial Cavalry

About me:

ABOUT US

Bill and Sheryl McCurtis and Dr. Lawrence Jeff Gaskin joined the AZ. 10th Cavalry in 1994. In researching information on the 10th Cavalry, they repeatedly came across references about the 9th Cavalry. They looked deeper into the history, become extremely interested, left the 10th Cavalry, and founded the 9th Memorial Cavalry.

The main purpose of this organization was, and is, to learn all we can about these men and the people they were associated with. Our main goal: get this knowledge to the general public and bring attention to the courage, sacrifice, bravery, loyalty, and devotion to duty of these men, and to teach our children about those who struggled, bled, and died to bring civilization to our western frontier - the true history of the West.

Initially quite a few people joined, but, after discovering this was not just "fun and games", many quickly left. They found out it takes dedicated people with the drive to see this through. It is now 2001 and we have come a long way in a relatively short time. We count 35 members in our organization as of this writing.

Our membership is privileged to include several celebrities - Harry Carey, Jr., Rex Allen, Jr., Buck Taylor, and Herb Jefferies, "the Bronze Buckaroo". Deceased members include Ben Johnson, Rex Allen, Dale Evans (Rogers), and Roy Rogers. We have met these wonderful supportive people through our activities as the 9th Memorial Cavalry.

Officially, we are HQ. TROOP, 9th UNITED STATES MEMORIAL CAVALRY.

We are committed to teaching the history of the BUFFALO SOLDIERS in general and the 9th U.S.Cavalry in particular.

Our goals are firmly set in reaching the young minds and hearts of our youth and educating the general public on the sacrifice and courage of what is considered, even today in military circles, as one of the finest and most dedicated fighting units in the history of this country; they just happen to be black. These Officers and Men of the 9th U.S. Cavalry fought to make the civilian population of the west secure in their quest for places of their own and to realize their peace and security did NOT come cheap.

The men of the 9th were never heard, much less acknowledged or recognized. We as descendents and beneficiaries of this outstanding legacy have a duty to insure these men get the recognition they deserve and finally to take their rightful places in the written and visual history of our country. We now have a solid base to build on. We are becoming firm in our knowledge of not only the men we represent, but also in recognizing other races that helped and / or served with them.

We are also attempting to reestablish the bond our ancestors had built with Native Americans. At one time our two races coexisted with little or no problems, so many of our ideas, habits and beliefs were similar. Our children played together; our men hunted and fought side by side. If we hadn't been forced to fight each other, that bond would have never been weakened. You will notice I said "weakened," because it has never been completely destroyed. Therefore, we, as an organization, must always work toward re-strengthening that bond.

When we don uniforms or period dress, we have a duty and responsibility to represent these people in the best we possibly can and continue to make the name "BUFFALO SOLDIERS" a household word: wear the titles of storekeeper, muleskinner, school-teacher, marshal, etc., with pride, dignity and respect. So, as your President, let me say; "THANK YOU" for your support and confidence; as Regimental Sergeant Major I say, very proudly, "WE CAN, WE WILL !!!.

- William McCurtis
RSM 9th Mem. Cav.