The Harlem Hellfighters

In 1914, what became known as World War I began in Europe. The United States declared itself a neutral with the intent of not entering a war in Europe. President Woodrow Wilson and the Congress reflected the attitude of the majority of Americans who supported the idea that the U.S. should stay out of the war.

The U.S. neutrality held even though it was challenged by German submarines attacking civilian ships. Germany attacked civilian ships from 1914 to September 1915, and stopped after objections by the U.S. and other neutral countries. Then in January 1917, the Germans declared the waters around Great Britain a war zone and resumed unrestricted submarine warfare. The U.S. responded by entering the war and sent troops to Europe to fight.

An African American New York National Guard regiment, the 369th Infantry Regiment (the Harlem Hellfighters), was activated and sent to Europe where they would be placed under French command. This contradicted the stated policy of U.S. troops operating only under American commanders. During the war the Harlem Hellfighters saw more combat than any other U.S. unit, and the unit was named the Hell Fighters by the Germans because of their fighting ability and courage. The American unit never lost a man to capture and never lost a foot of ground to the enemy. The French government awarded 171 Legion of Honor or Croix de Guerre (France's highest award for valor) medals to soldiers from the 369th Infantry. The unit suffered nearly 1,500 casualties.

After the war returning U.S. troops, except for the Hellfighters, had a victory parade in New York. In 1919 the Harlem Hellfighters were allowed to have their victory parade which began in midtown Manhattan and ended in Harlem.

Two United States Medals of Honor and several Distinguished Service Crosses were to be awarded to soldiers from the 369th Infantry Regiment. PVT Henry Johnson, who suffered 21 wounds in hand to hand combat in one battle, of the 369th Infantry was finally awarded the Medal of Honor in 2015.

Jack Dragoni attended Boston College and served in the U.S. Army in Berlin and Vietnam. He lives in Chaffee, Missouri.