Gray shares legacy of Buffalo Soldiers Published Feb. 22, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The history of the Buffalo Soldiers was described to Sheppard members at the Living Legends Banquet Museum Feb. 19 at the community center. Trooper Fred Gray, former president of the Lawton-Fort Sill Chapter of the 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Association of the Buffalo Soldiers, shared the legacy of the soldiers who served. Buffalo Soldiers were the first African Americans to serve in the "regular" U.S. Army immediately after the Civil War. "The Buffalo soldiers were mostly former slaves from all over the nation, but a lot of them were from the South," Mr. Gray said. "They made up about 20 percent of the servicemen at that time. They worked hard and did a lot for the country, especially our region." Buffalos Soldiers massively contributed to the creation of Fort Sill, Okla., by building more than 28 of the installation's buildings. Mr. Gray said they also helped make transportation to Oklahoma possible. "Without them, you would not be able to get to Oklahoma," he said. "They were the ones that basically built the railroads to get to and from there." Mr. Gray said people are interested in the story of one special Buffalo Soldier--Cathy Williams. "Cathy Williams was the only female Buffalo Soldier known to serve," he said. "Because women weren't allowed to serve back then, Cathy became a part of the 41st Infantry by masquerading herself as a man. "She changed her name to William Cathy and served for two years undetected," he said. The Buffalo Soldiers began their historical journey in 1866 and the original cavalries were deactivated in 1944, however, the current 10th Cavalry still maintains some characteristics of the original Buffalo Soldiers.