SMGO-0913 US Mexican Border Service Medal 1916 24th Infantry Buffalo Soldier

A rare border medal! The ribbon is badly damaged unfortunately. If you are a collector of early African American soldier memorabilia this is a great find!

The 24th Infantry Regiment (one of the Buffalo Soldier regiments) was organized on 1 November 1869 from the 38th U.S. Infantry Regiment (formed 24 July 1866) and the 41st U.S. Infantry Regiment (formed 27 July 1866).^[2]: 5 All the enlisted soldiers were black, either veterans of the U.S. Colored Troops or freedmen. From its activation until 1898, the 24th Infantry served throughout the Western United States. Its missions included garrisoning frontier posts, fighting Native Americans, protecting roadways against bandits, and guarding the border between the United States and Mexico.