The all-Black WWII unit that America rejected, but France couldn’t stop honoring

The 369th Infantry’s Journey from Rejection to Glory

The Harlem Hellfighters fought for a country that didn’t fight for them.

In 1917, these Black soldiers from the 369th Infantry were told “black is not a color in the rainbow” and banned from their own farewell parade.

Yet once in France, they spent 191 days in non-stop combat, longer than any American unit.

Under French command with French weapons, they earned fame when Henry Johnson fought off twelve Germans despite 21 wounds. The entire regiment won France’s Croix de Guerre medal for bravery.

Back home in February 1919, they finally got their parade through Harlem’s streets. Their story of courage still stands tall in monuments across Harlem today.

New York state gave the green light for the 15th New York National Guard Infantry Regiment on June 2, 1913. This made it the first Black National Guard unit in the state.

The regiment got formally organized on June 29, 1916, with Colonel William Hayward in charge. They didn’t have an armory, so the men trained at Lafayette Hall on Seventh Avenue and 132nd Street in Harlem.

More than 200 Black residents from New York City joined up first, forming the core of what would soon become a legendary fighting force.

America’s Entry Into WWI Filled Their Ranks Fast

When the U. S. jumped into World War I on April 6, 1917, the 15th New York beat every other unit in the city to reach full strength.

Over 2,000 volunteers signed up from all over – New York City, upstate New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The Army federalized them on July 25, 1917, and sent them to train at Camp Whitman in Dutchess County. Lieutenant James Reese Europe, a famous bandleader in civilian life, joined as an officer.

He brought in top-notch Black musicians for what would become one of the most famous military bands in Europe.

“Black Is Not a Color in the Rainbow” Kept Them From Marching

The 42nd “Rainbow” Division got a big farewell parade in December 1917 before heading to Europe. The 15th New York wasn’t allowed to join them.

Colonel Hayward asked why and got told point blank: “black is not a color in the rainbow. ” The regiment then went to Camp Wadsworth in Spartanburg, South Carolina for more training.

Local folks there harassed and verbally abused the Black soldiers daily.

Things got so bad that Hayward pushed hard to get his men shipped to France early, worried that violence might break out if they stayed.

The French Welcomed Them While Americans Gave Them Shovels

The regiment landed in Brest, France on December 27, 1917, among the first American units to reach Europe. But instead of combat roles, they got assigned to labor duties – unloading ships, building roads and docks.

On March 1, 1918, the Army renamed them the 369th Infantry Regiment. General Pershing finally handed them over to the French 16th Division on April 8, 1918.

This happened because white American commanders flat-out refused to fight alongside Black soldiers, but the French Army needed reinforcements badly.

French Weapons and Training Prepared Them for Battle

The 369th turned in their American gear and picked up French Berthier rifles and Adrian helmets instead. French instructors taught them new tactics and techniques for three weeks.

On April 8, 1918, they headed to the trenches for the first time.

The French Army treated them much better than the Americans did – they had worked with African colonial troops for decades and respected their abilities.

Lieutenant Europe’s band got popular fast, playing jazz concerts that amazed French troops and civilians who had never heard this new American music before.

Henry Johnson Fought Off 12 Germans with Just a Knife

Private Henry Johnson and Private Needham Roberts pulled midnight sentry duty at an outpost in the Argonne Forest on May 15, 1918. Around 2 a.m. , Johnson heard wire cutters snipping nearby.

Seconds later, a German raiding party of at least 12 soldiers attacked them. Grenades wounded Roberts, but he kept handing ammunition to Johnson.

After running out of bullets, Johnson fought with his rifle as a club. When that broke, he pulled out his bolo knife.

Despite getting stabbed and shot 21 times, Johnson killed four Germans and saved Roberts from capture. Both men became the first Americans to receive France’s Croix de Guerre medal.

German Troops Called Them “Hellfighters” for Good Reason

The 369th fought alongside French forces at Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood during the massive German spring and summer offensives of 1918.

They stayed in continuous combat from April through July in the Champagne region, never rotating to the rear like other units.

German troops started calling them “Hellfighters” after facing their fierce fighting style in battle.

French soldiers nicknamed them “Men of Bronze” after watching them hold the line under heavy artillery and gas attacks. Their reputation for toughness spread throughout the Allied forces.

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive Tested Their Limits

On September 26, 1918, the 369th joined the huge Meuse-Argonne Offensive as part of the French 161st Division.

They pushed forward through heavy German machine gun fire and artillery, capturing several towns and a key railroad junction. These advances cost them dearly – 851 casualties in just a few days of fighting.

By early October, the unit got pulled from the front lines.

The men were exhausted, their ranks thinned by weeks of brutal combat against determined German defenders.

No American Unit Spent More Time in Combat

The 369th stayed in continuous combat for 191 days – longer than any other American unit in World War I.

France awarded the entire regiment the Croix de Guerre, with 171 officers and men getting individual medals for bravery. The regiment suffered 1,500 total casualties, the highest rate of any U.S. regiment in the war.

On November 20, 1918, they became the first Allied unit to reach the Rhine River in Germany after the fighting stopped, a point of pride for the men who had come so far.

A Ship Captain Refused to Carry Black Troops Home

After the Armistice on November 11, 1918, the 369th got ready to head back to New York. When they showed up to board the USS Virginia, they hit one more barrier.

The ship’s captain refused to transport Black troops on an American battleship. The regiment finally made it to Hoboken, New Jersey on February 10, 1919, on a different vessel.

As soon as they arrived, the New York City Mayor’s Committee of Welcome started planning a massive parade to honor their service and sacrifice.

Harlem Roared When Their Heroes Marched Home

On February 17, 1919, about 2,900 soldiers of the 369th paraded up Fifth Avenue while hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers cheered them on.

The parade route stretched more than seven miles, from 23rd Street all the way to 145th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem.

Lieutenant James Reese Europe led his 100-piece band at the front, playing “Here Comes My Daddy Now” as they entered Harlem. When the regiment turned onto Lenox Avenue, the crowd noise drowned out the band completely.

Families rushed past police lines to hug their returning soldiers. For one day at least, these Black heroes got the welcome they deserved.

Visiting Harlem, New York

You can see the Harlem Hellfighters monument at Fifth Avenue and 142nd Street anytime since it’s viewable from the street 24/7.

The 369th Regiment Armory is right nearby at 2366 Fifth Avenue, but it’s still an active military facility with limited public access.

For more exhibits about the regiment, visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC, but you’ll need free timed-entry passes that you should reserve online ahead of time.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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