On August 13, 1906, an incident known as the Brownsville Raid occurred in Brownsville, Texas, involving a group of African American soldiers from the 25th Infantry Regiment. In this incident, these soldiers, likely retaliating for racial insults and constant harassment, went on a rampage. They shot and killed a white man while wounding two others.

The soldiers involved were stationed at Fort Brown, and the incident led to the dismissal of 167 men from the regiment. Despite their protests and claims of innocence, none were ever convicted of the crime, but the military accused them collectively and dishonorably discharged them. The Brownsville Raid remains a significant and controversial event in U.S. military history, especially because of the racial tensions and the subsequent injustice against the soldiers involved.

It wasn’t until 1972 that the dishonorable discharges were overturned, and the soldiers were posthumously exonerated, though many had died by then.