Rikki lowder
3 min readMar 8, 2021

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The 24th infantry in New Mexico.

When reading the story about the 24th infantry I got upset to be honest. I got upset at the fact that the government was lying to try to get the solders removed form Columbus New Mexico. How even with evidence that the solders was nothing but honest good solders they were treated with disrespect form the town based on there color. The solders helped the town and was doing nothing but participating the the growth of Columbus. Buying homes and investing in the town. Keeping the town save from danger coming from the border or anywhere that matter. How they were frowned upon for the prostitution and gambling even with the whole town involved with it. How when the lies about them doing drugs was investigated and found to be not true. Reading the letters insisting that they send white solders to replace the 24th infantry when told that it was not possible. It is sad after the solders were noting put good workers, good members of society, and never caused any trouble they were still discriminated against. I’m happy the even with the people in Columbus including the governor writing to higher up in Washington that they did there own investigation to find the truth. I cant imagine how the solders must have felt. Moving to a new place with everyone against you when you do nothing but help. Its sad and i’m happy times have changed. When reading these documents I found it hard to read them some. There old and have been worn down a bit. I can not personally relate to how the solders felt at the time but I do feel mad and find how they acted disgusting. I also much understand it was a different time them. That discriminating was more acceptable. Even with the whites not out right speaking out because they were afraid of a race war I am sure the solders felt that they were not wanted to be there. I will never understand being prejudice but that's how it was back in the day. No matter how you helped or what good you did for the town or any way you were still hated. I felt like I understood what was happening in Columbus when reading these papers. Where I felt there could have been more information is maybe telling us the outcome. Was the 24th infantry allowed to stay in Columbus? Why was the 24th infantry picked to go to Columbus? I would have loved to maybe read from the perspective of the solders. How did they feel about everything. What was the long term affect by the 24th infantry being in Columbus? I have learned that a lot of information about the past can be gathered when reading letters send to one another. I understood that reading letters can give information but it was fascinating to see how they spoke to each other and what you can gather from reading there letters. I was proud at how the higher up or ones from Washington stood up for there solders and did not back down or just take the word of the people from there. I loved reading this and finding out about the history of New Mexico. I love how we got to see both sides of the situation. I hope the 24th infantry was treated fairy in the end and would love to learn more.

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