The all-Black WWI 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.

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