Harlem Hellfighters — 369th Infantry
191 days in the trenches
1918 CE · World War IArgonne, France12 views
The 369th spent more continuous days in combat than any American regiment in World War I, serving under French command and returning with the Croix de Guerre.
One of the most renowned units of African American combat troops was the highly decorated 369th Infantry Regiment - best known as the “Harlem Hellfighters” - heroes whose stories, until recently, had largely been forgotten.
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.”
But 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. It is believed that their German foes were the first to dub them “Hellfighters” for their courage and ferocity.
In one engagement two of the most celebrated members of the unit, Private Henry Johnson and Private Needham Roberts, 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.
During the war, the Harlem Hellfighters spent more time in continuous combat than any other American unit of its size, with 191 days in the front-line trenches. They also suffered more losses than any other American regiment, with more than 1,400 total casualties.
The extraordinary courage of the Harlem Hellfighters earned them fame in Europe and America, as newspapers recounted their remarkable feats. After the war, the French government awarded the coveted Croix de Guerre medal to 171 members of the regiment, as well as a Croix de Guerre citation to the unit as a whole. Some members of the Harlem Hellfighters received military awards from the U.S. government, including the Distinguished Service Cross. In 2015, Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, our nation's highest military honor.
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