African American Buffalo Soldier 25th Infantry United States Army '25-D' Real Photo Postcard

The man depicted in this postcard is an African American soldier, likely serving during the World War I era, roughly 1910s-1920s. His uniform, characterized by the khaki service coat with a stand-up collar and breast pockets, and the wide-brimmed campaign hat, was standard issue for the U.S. Army "doughboy" of that period. This portrait represents the significant, yet often overlooked, participation of hundreds of thousands of African Americans in the U.S. armed forces during the Great War, demonstrating patriotism despite racial discrimination at home.

African American soldiers during this time served in segregated units, with many assigned to labor and support roles, though some combat divisions, such as the 92nd and 93rd, saw action and earned distinguished commendations, particularly while serving under French command. Their military service, often against the backdrop of pervasive racism both within the military and society at large, was a powerful assertion of citizenship rights and a foundational step in the broader civil rights movement that would gain momentum in the subsequent decades.