KTKA

The Museum of the Kansas National Guard added four former National Guardsmen to its Hall of Fame Sunday afternoon at the Ramada Inn in Topeka.

A room full of friends, family and comrades gathered to honor the service these four men provided for their country. The honored soldiers ranged from Civil War Veterans to Vietnam Veterans.

The inductees included:

Pvt. William F. Cody "Buffalo Bill" - William F. Cody enlisted in February of 1864 at the age of 18. He served as a civilian scout for the 9th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. His service continued when he was handpicked at the age of 22 by General Phil Sheridan to be the chief scout of the 5th U.S. Cavalry in October 1868.

Cpl. James Whitfield Ross - James Ross was born into slavery, but at the age of 26 he escaped and found his way to a Union Army regiment in 1862. He arrived in Topeka, KS, in August of that year and joined the Company F of the First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry. On January 13, 1863, he was promoted to the rank of corporal.

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Warren J. Smith "Bud" - Bud Smith enlisted in the Kansas Army National Guard in September 1966 and completed Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He was assigned as a pioneer in the 226th Engineer Battalion. In 1972, Smith was hired to be an Administrative Supply Technician for the 242nd Engineer Company in Wichita, KS.

Retired Col. Charles R. Rayl - Charles Rayl enlisted in the United States Army in January 1964. In 1970, he was commissioned in the Kansas National Guard and remained in the Guard until his retirement in 1994. He is the recipient of the Purple Heart and the Legion of Merit along with numerous other military medals, ribbons and badges.