Harlem Hellfighters: The Best Fighting African-American Infantry Regiment of World War I

When it comes to the First World War, you hardly hear about the African-Americans that fought in the war let alone the amazing story of the 369th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army, nicknamed the "Harlem Hellfighters," " Black Rattlers" and the "Men of Bronze." Formed as part of the New York National Guard as the 15th Infantry Regiment on 2 June 1913 then called up to federal service on 25 July 1917 for basic training and combat training, the 15th changed to the 369th on 1 March 1918 after it was reorganized. 

While in Europe, the 369th Regiment was assigned to the 16^th Division of the French Army due to the segregation they faced in the American Army.¹ They were originally sent to France to work as a support regiment not a fighting one. France welcome them with open arms as they need every fighting man they could get no matter what his skin color was. According to Author W. Little, who was a battalion commander in the regiment, France had wept over them-wept the tears of gratitude and love. France had kissed these colored soldiers-kissed them with reverence and in honor, first upon the right cheek and then upon the left.² The regiment would see fighting during the Battles of Chateau-Thierry, Belleau Wood and the Marne Offensive becoming one of the most combat heavy regiments in the entire American Expeditionary Force. This regiment was also the first to cross the Rhine river into Germany after the Armistice was signed.

According to Author W. Little, the statistics of our regiment that we were under fire (in combat) 191 days; that we lost in battle, killed and wounded, about 1,500 men; in that we never lost a prisoner; that we never lost a foot of ground in defensive operations; that in offensive operations were took every objective but one, and in that one the fault lay with a failure of artillery support.³ Also 170 men of this regiment for its months of fighting for France received the French Croix of Guerre and two American Medal of Honors were awarded, one to the famous Pvt. Henry Johnson. This regiment faced racism and hatred from its fellow countrymen but to only prove them wrong showing the world that they had what it takes to fight in World War I.

Works Cited:

1. Arthur W. Little, From Harlem to the Rhine: The Story of New York’s Colored Volunteers, (New York: Haskell House, 1974), https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015005896116;view=1up;seq=4, page 5.

2. Arthur W. Little, From Harlem to the Rhine: The Story of New York’s Colored Volunteers, (New York: Haskell House, 1974), https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015005896116;view=1up;seq=4, page 350.

3. Arthur W. Little, From Harlem to the Rhine: The Story of New York’s Colored Volunteers, (New York: Haskell House, 1974), https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015005896116;view=1up;seq=4, page 11.

Bibliography

Little, Arthur West. From Harlem to the Rhine: The Story of New Yorks Colored Volunteers. New York: Haskell House, 1974. Accessed February 20, 2019. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015005896116;view=1up;seq=4.