From the wild Alaskan wilderness to the lava-flowing fields of Hawaii, to the giant sequoias of northern California, the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers extends well beyond the plains of the western frontier. Since the inception of the segregated Army units of African American soldiers in 1866, the Buffalo Soldiers served in various parts of the United States in many roles. The nickname “Buffalo Soldiers” is believed to have originated from Native American tribes who fought against them during the American Indian Wars. The term was used to describe the soldiers’ dark, curly hair, which resembled the fur of the buffalo. Captain Charles Young served with Troop I, 9th Cavalry Regiment. In the summer of 1903, Young, a captain in the 9th Calvary Regiment, became the first African American national park Superintendent when he and his unit were tasked to manage and maintain Sequoia National Park in northern California. At that time, the military supervised all national parks. Under Young’s le...