Lt. Col.: Buffalo Soldiers serve proudly in Iraq

Thursday, January 8, 2004 Posted: 1:20 PM EST (1820 GMT)

TIKRIT, Iraq (CNN) -- The Buffalo Soldiers are best known as a black U.S. cavalry unit that served bravely in the Wild West after the Civil War.

Today the First Squadron, 10th Cavalry, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers, is considered among the most highly mobile unit in the U.S. Army.

For most of its existence, the Buffalo Soldiers were a unit of black soldiers commanded by white officers.

Today the now-integrated unit is led by Lt. Col. Reginald Allen, the first African-American to command the Buffalo Soldiers in combat.

COMPLETE TEXT PLUS VIDEO at: