Harlem Hellfighters, who spent 191 days in the trenches of WWI, get special congressional honors
Published: 3 September 2025
By Billy House
via the Newsday website
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The Harlem Hellfighters were essentially a Black American unit in a then-segregated Army and National Guard. Credit: National Archives
The Harlem Hellfighters spent more time in continuous front-line combat in World War I than any other similarly sized American regiment — 191 days in the front-line trenches. They suffered more casualties than any other U.S. regiment. Some 1,500 were killed, wounded or went missing, but none were known to be taken prisoner.
They were the first unit of the French, British or American armies to reach the Rhine River at the end of the war. Army publications have noted legend has it that it was the Germans who gave these adversaries the nickname Hellfighters, “Hollenkampfer.”
Now, more than 110 years after their highly decorated World War I heroics, the Hellfighters on Wednesday finally get their national due as Congressional Gold Medal recipients.
The predominantly Black 369th Infantry Regiment is to be posthumously honored by Congress with the medal for its “unwavering dedication to military service, cultural contributions and bravery in the face of discrimination during World War I.”
WHAT NEWSDAY FOUND
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- The predominantly Black 369th Infantry Regiment — the Harlem Hellfighters — will be posthumously honored by Congress with the medal for its “unwavering dedication to military service, cultural contributions and bravery in the face of discrimination during World War I.”
- The newly minted medal won’t be publicly unveiled until shortly before the start of the afternoon ceremony at the Capitol. It is heading to the Smithsonian Institution for display there and in other exhibits; Bronze replicas will be made publicly available from the mint.
- The Hellfighters were the first unit of the French, British or American armies to reach the Rhine River at the end of the war. Upon their return to the States, the Hellfighters were cheered as they marched in a victory parade up Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and other congressional and military officials will be on hand at Emancipation Hall of the U.S. Capitol for the medal presentation.
Wednesday evening, the French Embassy in Washington will hold a reception to applaud the recognition of the Hellfighters, which totaled over 4,000 soldiers, including at least 40 men from the Sea Cliff, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay and Glen Cove area.
→ Read the entire article on the Newsday website.
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