Approximately 200,000 Black Americans served in Europe during World War I, including roughly 42,000 of whom saw combat. One of the most renowned units of Black American combat troops was the highly decorated 369th Infantry Regiment. On December 27, 1917, the 369th Infantry Regiment (originally the 15th New York Colored Infantry Regiment) became the first all-Black U.S. combat unit to be shipped overseas during World War I.
Before setting out for Europe, the unit was refused permission to participate in the farewell parade of New York’s National Guard, known as the “Rainbow Division,” because “black is not a color in the rainbow.” However, after being assigned to fight under the 16th Division of the French army, because many White American soldiers refused to serve with Black soldiers, they quickly proved their bravery and combat skills.
The regiment was initially nicknamed the “Black Rattlers” for the rattlesnake insignia that adorned their uniforms, and they were called “Men of Bronze” by the French. Yet, the moniker which ultimately stuck came from their German foes who dubbed the unit “Hellfighters.” During their 191 days of duty at the front, no men were captured nor ground taken. During the war, the Harlem Hellfighters spent more time in continuous combat than any other American unit of its size. They also suffered more losses than any other American regiment, with more than 1,400 total casualties.
One example of the extraordinary courage of the Harlem Hellfighters involves Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts. These two young soldiers fought off an entire German patrol despite being severely wounded and out of ammunition. After Roberts became incapacitated, Johnson ultimately resorted to using his bolo knife. The French government awarded the entire regiment the prestigious Croix de Guerre avec Palme, France's highest award for valor. Sergeant Henry Johnson was the first Black soldier to win this coveted award.
The Harlem Hellfighters were the first New York combat unit to return home, and the regiment, which had been denied a place in the farewell parade the prior year, was rewarded with a victory parade. On February 17, 1919, New Yorkers of every race turned out in huge numbers to support 3,000 Harlem Hellfighters as they proudly marched up Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue to the music of their renowned regimental jazz bandleader, James Reese Europe. In fact, the Hellfighters’ regimental band is credited with bringing jazz to Europe. Unfortunately, their fame quickly faded, and for decades the remarkable story of these outstanding African American patriots was largely erased from our country's history. Thankfully, the Harlem Hellfighters are now being recognized and celebrated. In 2015, Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, our nation's highest military decoration.
We are grateful for the contributions of Bridgette Royall, who created this month’s content.