369th Infantry Regiment (Harlem Hellfighters)

The 369th Infantry Regiment was an African American army unit that fought with distinction during World War I (1914–1918). The unit consisted of National Guard soldiers from New York; many of the soldiers came from the Harlem section of New York City. While many African American soldiers were kept away from battle, the 369th Infantry was placed under French command and sent to the front lines. Their skill in combat earned them the nickname "Harlem Hellfighters" from the German soldiers who faced them. The regiment achieved several key victories, but also suffered heavy casualties. More than 170 men received commendations for their bravery, and the unit itself was awarded the Croix de Guerre, a prestigious military honor by the French. The 369th Infantry returned home to a heroes' welcome in 1919.

Background

During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), Black soldiers fought on both sides of the conflict. Thousands of slaves from the southern colonies joined the British cause in exchange for the promise of freedom. Many more, both free Black men and slaves, joined the Continental Army and fought on the side of the Americans. The first all-Black military unit in US history was the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, which was formed in 1778. The regiment saw action in several battles, including the key Battle of Yorktown in 1781.

During the War of 1812, Pennsylvania and New York recruited all-Black regiments to fight for the United States. Slaves and "free men of color" took part in the fortification and defense of New Orleans during the closing days of the war. Naval commander Captain Oliver Hazard Perry praised the Black soldiers who served aboard his ship during the Battle of Lake Erie.

One of the most storied military units of the American Civil War (1861–1865) was the all-Black 54th Massachusetts Infantry. In 1863, the 54th Infantry led the charge on South Carolina's Fort Wagner. The 54th fought its way into the walls of the Confederate fortress until being driven back, suffering very high casualties. The attack ultimately failed. William H. Carney, a former slave and member of the regiment, became the first Black soldier to be awarded the Medal of Honor—the highest honor in the US military.

Overview

In 1914, a political assassination ignited decades of rising tensions among European powers, triggering the start of World War I. In hopes of a quick victory, Germany mobilized its army and invaded France. The British and French stopped the advance within 30 miles (48 kilometers) of Paris, and the two sides dug in for what would become years of brutal warfare. At first, the United States wanted no part of the war, but by 1917, it became apparent that America could no longer stay out of the conflict. After declaring war against Germany in April 1917, the United States began assembling troops to send over to Europe.

A year earlier, the New York National Guard had formed an all-Black unit of enlisted men under the command of both Black and White officers. Most of the unit came from Harlem, a New York City neighborhood in upper Manhattan. In 1917, the 15th New York National Guard Infantry Regiment was called into active service and became the US Army's 369th Infantry Regiment. The regiment was led by Colonel William Hayward, a White officer who valued the men who served under him and treated them with respect.

The soldiers of the 369th were among the nearly 380,000 African Americans to serve in World War I. Many black enlisted men were assigned to labor duties, such as building roads and helping supply the front lines. When the 369th arrived in France in December 1917, there was little expectation they would see combat.

France was in desperate need of soldiers at the time, and the 369th was placed under command of the French army. In contrast to the American army where discrimination was prevalent, the French army welcomed the 369th as fellow soldiers. The regiment began training in March 1918 and by July, it was fighting in the Second Battle of the Marne. The battle marked a turning point in World War I. It was the last major German offensive of the war and ended in a decisive victory for Allied forces.

In September, the 369th saw action in the massive Allied offensive known as the Battle of the Argonne Forest. After one day, the regiment captured the French town of Ripont and continued to push the Germans back for the next month. In all, the 369th Infantry Regiment served 191 days on the front lines of the war. During this time, the regiment did not lose any ground to the enemy and no soldier was taken captive. After encountering the 369th in battle, the Germans nicknamed them the "Hellfighters," a name that was a source of pride for the regiment. The success came at a high cost with about 1,500 men either killed or wounded—the most casualties sustained by any American unit in the war.

More than 170 members of the 369th regiment were awarded commendations for their actions during the war. Corporal Henry Johnson and Private Needham Roberts were both presented with the Croix de Guerre, one of France's highest honors during World War I. The medal signified exceptional bravery in combat. Johnson, whose nickname was "Black Death," fought off a German raiding party to rescue Needham. Johnson and Needham were the first Americans to receive the Croix de Guerre. The regiment as a whole was also awarded the Croix de Guerre.

Despite being wounded in battle, Johnson never received any military honors from the US Army before his death in 1929. In 1996, he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, and in 2003, the US Army awarded him the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery. Then, in 2015, Johnson posthumously received the Medal of Honor.

The 369th returned home in February 1919 and was welcomed with a victory parade through the streets of New York City. The regiment was eventually readmitted into the New York National Guard. It reformed during World War II (1939–1945) as the 369th Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment, serving in Hawaii and along the West Coast of the United States. The unit remained in existence in the twenty-first century as the 369th Support Battalion of the New York Army National Guard.

In August 2021, the Harlem Hellfighters were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their actions during World War I. It is the highest award bestowed by the United States Congress and has long been awarded to military units of exceptional service.

Bibliography

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Owens, Donna M. "The Harlem Hellfighters, a Segregated World War I Unit, Earned a Congressional Gold Medal." NBC News, 31 Aug. 2021, www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/harlem-hellfighters-segregated-world-war-unit-earned-congressional-gol-rcna1825. Accessed 7 Apr. 2022.

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Mikkelsen, Edward, Jr. "369th Infantry Regiment 'Harlem Hellfighters.'" BlackPast.org, www.blackpast.org/aah/369th-infantry-regiment-harlem-hellfighters. Accessed 4 Feb. 2018.

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