"Chaplain William T. Green reads the benediction at the marriage ceremony of Pfc. Florence A. Collins, a WAC of the 6888th Postal Directory Battalion, to Cpl. William A. Johnson of the 1696th Labor Supervision Co. This is the first Negro marriage to be performed in the European Theater of Operations." Rouen, France. August 19, 1945."

One of two similar buildings in France, which house the vast quantities of Christmas mail en route to American soldiers. Men of the 12th Army Group APO sort an average of 12,000 bags per day at this station; a job which due to the shortage of skilled help presents a considerable problem. 12/6/1944 (Verdun, France)

Speeding overseas Christmas parcels to American troops in the ETO, WACS at this large U.S. Army base post office in England trace correct units and postal addresses through locator cards, representing every American serviceman and woman in the theater. The postal directory section processed 624.000 parcels in one month alone. 12/9/1944 (Birmingham, England)

These buildings comprise the U.S. Army Central Postal Directory for the E.T.O. located near Paris, France. 7/31/1945 (Paris, France)

Here is a general view of the first class and secondary section of the first base post office of the U.S. Army at Paris, France. 7/31/1945 (Paris, France)

Torn sacks and broken packages are shown as the results of the methods used in the handling of the mail in hatch #1, of the Esek Hopkins at Leghorn, Italy. 10/6/1945 (Leghorn, Italy)

Here is part of a large pile of packages addressed to soldiers in the E.T.O. which have become partially unwrapped en-route from the states. At a base post office in France they are re-wrapped where possible and sent on. Where addresses have been lost, however, the contents are salvaged. 4/16/1945 (Essonnes, France)

Millie Veasey

Here is the mail transportation section of the first U.S. Army base post office at Paris, France. 7/31/1945 (Paris, France)

LTC Charity Adams Early

Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, left, and members of the 555th Parachute Infantry Association celebrate the ...

Ron Jones with the Los Angeles chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers 9th & 10th Horse Calvary Association stood behind a statue bust of Cathay Williams, a woman who disguised herself as a man to enlist as a private in the 38th U.S. Infantry from 1866 to 1868, following the unveiling at Friday’s dedication of the Female Buffalo Soldier Monument at the Richard Allen Cultural Center & Museum in Leavenworth. As part of her disguise, she went by the name of William Cathey.

A bust of retired Gen. Colin Powell was unveiled during a ceremony in the Circle of Firsts in the Buffalo Soldier Commemorative Area Sept. 5 on Fort Leavenworth.

Walter Morris, an original member of the Triple Nickles, signs an autograph Thursday, Sept. 7, ...

Walter Morris, a retired 1st sergeant, was an original member of the Triple Nickles and ...

Williard Kennebrew, left, and Joe H. Cheu, members of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battallion, pause ...

Lt. Gen. David Petraeus and Joe Murchison, president of the Triple Nickles, unveil a statue ...

The bust of 2nd Lt. Henry O. Flipper, the first African-American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., was dedicated March 30, 2007, and is in the Circle of Firsts near the Buffalo Soldier Monument.

Soldiers present the colors Thursday, Sept. 7, at Fort Leavenworth prior to the dedication of ...

Retired Gen. Colin Powell, first African-American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. secretary of state, talks about how the idea for the Buffalo Soldier Monument came to him and why it was so important to him during his remarks at the unveiling ceremony of a bust in his likeness in the Circle of Firsts in the Buffalo Soldier Commemorative Area Sept. 5 at Fort Leavenworth.

Retired Navy Cmdr. Carlton Philpot, Buffalo Soldier Monument project director, and retired Gen. Colin Powell, first African-American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. secretary of state, unveil the bust of Powell in the Circle of Firsts in the Buffalo Soldier Commemorative Area Sept. 5 on Fort Leavenworth.

Combined Arms Center Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Wright; retired Gen. Dennis Reimer, former chief of staff of the Army; Lt. Gen. Robert Brown, CAC and Fort Leavenworth commanding general; retired Navy Cmdr. Carlton Philpot, Buffalo Soldier Monument project dir.; and retired Gen. Colin Powell, first African-American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. secretary of state, unveil the bust of Powell in the Circle of Firsts in the Buffalo Soldier Commemorative Area Sept. 5 on Ft Leavenworth.

Retired Gen. Colin Powell passes John Bruce, president of the Greater Kansas City Area Chapter of the 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association of the Buffalo Soldiers, and James Madison, past president, as the official party enters the Circle of Firsts for the bust dedication ceremony honoring Powell Sept. 5 in the Buffalo Soldier Commemorative Area by Smith Lake.

Cathay Williams Monument, 1st Female Buffalo Soldier

Artist Eddie Dixon, monument and bust sculptor; retired Navy Cmdr. Carlton Philpot, Buffalo Soldier Monument project director; and Lt. Gen. Robert Brown, CAC and Fort Leavenworth commanding general, meet at the podium for the presentation of the newest bust to Fort Leavenworth for the Circle of Firsts Sept. 5 by Smith Lake.

Wearing period uniforms, Color Guard members Spc. Dominique Neal, 291st Military Police Company, 40th MP Internment and Resettlement Battalion; Spc. Johnnie Leggett, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Disciplinary Barracks; Spc. Thomas Leerar, 291st; Pfc. Angel Ferrer, 256th MP Company, 40th; Spc. Ashley Justice, 526th MP Company, 40th; and NCOIC Staff Sgt. Shawn Manson, HHC, 40th, post the colors as a ceremony begins to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Buffalo Soldier Monument

Lt. Gen. David Petraeus welcomes members of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battallion to Fort Leavenworth ...

A bust of a Buffalo Solider awaits those touring the new exhibit honoring those fighting for the U.S. and not forgotten.

Cathay Williams Monument, 1st Female Buffalo Soldier

Prentis Bowles, left, and J.R. Bruce, members of the Buffalo Soldiers Association, were in the ...

Members of the Golden Knights, the Army parachuting team, land Thursday, Sept. 7, at Fort ...

A bust of Brig. Gen. Benjamin Grierson, founder and first commander of the 10th Cavalry Regiment, is officially added to the Circle of Firsts Aug. 8 near the 20-year-old Buffalo Soldier Monument.

Sgt. Elizabeth Fitch and Spc. Devin Rollins, both of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Joint Regional Correctional Facility, lead the color guard to post the colors as the ceremony recognizing the 25th anniversary of the Buffalo Soldier Monument dedication begins July 28 in front of the monument.

Trooper Willie Edley Jr, president of the 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association, accepts a proclamation from the governor of Kansas from retired Lt. Gen. Perry Wiggins, executive director of the Governor's Military Council for Kansas during the 25th anniversary of the Buffalo Soldier Monument dedication ceremony July 28 in front of the monument.