Book excerpt: The African-American troops known as the Buffalo Soldiers helped change the American West. From 1867 to 1891 they fought over a hundred battles in the Indian Wars. They risked their lives in other ways, including enforcing the law, guarding wagon trains, exploring unknown territory, and building built forts, roads, and telegraph lines. They helped win the famous Battle of San Juan Heights in Cuba, perhaps saving the life of future president Theodore Roosevelt.Everywhere they went, the faced racism and bigotry. They defended themselves, but almost never over-reacted to the threats against them. They showed courage not only in what they did, but what they didn't do. For many years, they were forgotten heroes. No longer. Their history is America's history.