African American Buffalo Soldier 806th WWI 1918 France Black Cabinet Card J15207

DETAILS: Original French issued cabinet card photograph of an US Army African American soldier by photographer Yves Le Bourdonnec, Brest, Brittany. Soldier uniform markings are from the 806th Pioneer Infantry Regiment. Verso identifies him as Richard Nenily spelling? Measures 4.25" x 2.5" inches. BACKGROUND: The 806th Pioneer Infantry Regiment was an all-Black American unit that served in France during World War I. The 806th Pioneer Infantry was part of the American Expeditionary Forces and trained at Fort Riley before deploying to France in 1918. Pioneer infantry regiments performed critical engineering, construction, and logistical support work-such as building roads and supplying the front line - - though some members, like Regimental Color Sergeant Vernon Coffey, experienced the conflict firsthand overseas before mustering out in 1919. Oxxbridge Galleries was founded in 1987 and specializes in vintage paper items with a large selection of historical and 19th Century tintypes, daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, cabinet cards, carte des visites and other types of early photography.

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