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-|The Harlem Hellfighters | World War 1 | May 1918 | Argonne Forest, France |-
The US 369th Infantry Regiment the “Harlem Hellfighters”, nicknamed by their German enemy, was one of the only all-black military units to serve on the frontlines during WW1. Since the segregation of the black troops from the white in the American army was still strong, it was decided the regiment would serve along side the French. The French army welcomed the troops into their country; there was very little if not no hatred shown towards them. The French had very little concerns about race, but much bigger concerns of their man power shortages they were experiencing. Upon being assigned to the French 16th division, the soldiers were re-equipped with an all French load out, however the soldiers did keep their American uniforms. They went into the trenches on 8th May 1918 to 19 August, when they were taken off the line for rest and the training of new recruits. While overseas, the troops saw the German’s aims at demoralizing them; stating the Germans had done nothing wrong to blacks, and that they should be fighting for them. This had no effect on any of the soldiers’ morale, and they headed back to the frontline to participate in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. The regiment was reassigned to be part of the French Fourth Army, acting as the spearhead in the frontal attack. Through the advance, taking heavy losses, the regiment was forced to regroup and pull back, advancing much faster then the French troops on their flanks, having gone 14km (8.7 mi) through heavy German resistance. In mid-October the regiment was transferred to a much quieter section of the front in the Vosges Mountains, where it was stationed on the 11th November, the day of the Armistice. A week later, the Regiment began their final advance, and on 26th November was the first Allied unto to reach the Western banks of the Rhine river. There were two Medals of Honour distributed to Private Henry Johnson and Private Needham Roberts, the highest USAF Award for bravery and valour in combat. At the time, the regiment was stationed on the edge of the Argonne forest, in the Champagne region. During the night of May 14th, 1918, these two friends were on observation post duty (in a shell crater) in no-man’s land, looking for enemy activity. During the night, they could hear wire cutters clipping at the barbed wire, although it was pitch black. Then, out of the shadows came a large German patrol of nearly 24 men, and suddenly they were under attack. Jackson and Roberts fired away with their rifles, until Roberts was hit. Jackson’s gun had just jammed due to the wrong ammunition, and the first Germans were closing in for the kill. He beat one down, then used his rifle as a club on a German soldier trying to take Roberts as a prisoner (depicted here). Jackson battled on with a Bolo knife and his fists, killing at least 4 Germans and wounding several others. He suffered nearly two dozen wounds, and was hailed a hero by his fellow soldiers, being nicknamed the “Black Death”. The regiment had many heroic acts, and distinguished itself as a very capable fighting force during its service period; which was a record for American units during WW1.
-|The Harlem Hellfighters | World War 1 | May 1918 | Argonne Forest, France |-
The US 369th Infantry Regiment the “Harlem Hellfighters”, nicknamed by their German enemy, was one of the only all-black military units to serve on the frontlines during WW1. Since the segregation of the black troops from the white in the American army was still strong, it was decided the regiment would serve along side the French. The French army welcomed the troops into their country; there was very little if not no hatred shown towards them. The French had very little concerns about race, but much bigger concerns of their man power shortages they were experiencing. Upon being assigned to the French 16th division, the soldiers were re-equipped with an all French load out, however the soldiers did keep their American uniforms. They went into the trenches on 8th May 1918 to 19 August, when they were taken off the line for rest and the training of new recruits. While overseas, the troops saw the German’s aims at demoralizing them; stating the Germans had done nothing wrong to blacks, and that they should be fighting for them. This had no effect on any of the soldiers’ morale, and they headed back to the frontline to participate in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. The regiment was reassigned to be part of the French Fourth Army, acting as the spearhead in the frontal attack. Through the advance, taking heavy losses, the regiment was forced to regroup and pull back, advancing much faster then the French troops on their flanks, having gone 14km (8.7 mi) through heavy German resistance. In mid-October the regiment was transferred to a much quieter section of the front in the Vosges Mountains, where it was stationed on the 11th November, the day of the Armistice. A week later, the Regiment began their final advance, and on 26th November was the first Allied unto to reach the Western banks of the Rhine river. There were two Medals of Honour distributed to Private Henry Johnson and Private Needham Roberts, the highest USAF Award for bravery and valour in combat. At the time, the regiment was stationed on the edge of the Argonne forest, in the Champagne region. During the night of May 14th, 1918, these two friends were on observation post duty (in a shell crater) in no-man’s land, looking for enemy activity. During the night, they could hear wire cutters clipping at the barbed wire, although it was pitch black. Then, out of the shadows came a large German patrol of nearly 24 men, and suddenly they were under attack. Jackson and Roberts fired away with their rifles, until Roberts was hit. Jackson’s gun had just jammed due to the wrong ammunition, and the first Germans were closing in for the kill. He beat one down, then used his rifle as a club on a German soldier trying to take Roberts as a prisoner (depicted here). Jackson battled on with a Bolo knife and his fists, killing at least 4 Germans and wounding several others. He suffered nearly two dozen wounds, and was hailed a hero by his fellow soldiers, being nicknamed the “Black Death”. The regiment had many heroic acts, and distinguished itself as a very capable fighting force during its service period; which was a record for American units during WW1.