Harlem Hellfighters: The Unsung Heroes of World War I

Facing Discrimination Off the Battlefield

Despite Colonel Hayward’s warning to his white officers, discrimination against Black soldiers was deeply embedded in the U.S. armed forces and American society. For example, when the 15th New York Infantry initially traveled to South Carolina's Camp Wadsworth for training, the racism they faced from white Southerners was so intense that the soldiers were quickly sent back to New York.

And when the men shipped off to France, the Army denied them the heroes' sendoff given to the rest of the 42nd Infantry "Rainbow" Division. When Hayward asked to participate in the parade through Manhattan, the response was, "Black is not a color of the rainbow."

Harlem Hellfighters During WWI

When they first deployed to France, the 15th New York Infantry was relegated to building railroads and other non-combat duties. Although essential work, these jobs were demoralizing for Black men who saw fighting, not digging ditches, as a chance to gain respect that they were typically denied. Finally, Army leadership agreed to send the troops into battle—with a caveat. Instead of Black soldiers fighting alongside white U.S. troops, the unit, renamed the 369th Infantry Regiment, was assigned to work with the more accepting French military. 

Soon after the regiment deployed to the front lines, two of its soldiers made military history. In recognition of their heroic efforts repelling a German raiding party, Corporal Henry Johnson and Private Needham Roberts both earned the French military award, the Croix de Guerre. 

The 369th Infantry Regiment saw continuous combat on the Western Front, distinguishing themselves in major battles including Minancourt, Belleau Wood, Château-Thierry, the Second Battle of the Marne, and the Meuse-Argonne offensive at Séchault. But because the 369th saw more nonstop combat than other American regiments of similar size, they suffered a higher number of casualties—1,400.

Both allies and enemies recognized the fierceness and determination of the Black soldiers. In fact, their famous nickname, Hellfighters, came from the German “Hollenkampfer.” The French soldiers dubbed the Hellfighters, "Men of Bronze." 

Homecoming for the Harlem Hellfighters

When the Harlem Hellfighters finally returned to New York City, they received a heroes' welcome—celebrated by white and Black New Yorkers alike. On February 17, 1919, as the 3,000-strong regiment marched up Fifth Avenue toward Harlem, it was greeted by massive crowds that cheered for the brave soldiers. Many wore a symbolic image of a black rattlesnake—the insignia on the Harlem Hellfighters uniform—to show support for the troops.

A day later, on February 18th, The New York Times featured the homecoming in a full-page spread that highlighted the Harlem Hellfighters' significance. But despite some shifts in public opinion toward Black soldiers, their success did not hail the end of Jim Crow segregation and violence across the country. Nevertheless, Black soldiers’ struggles, triumphs, and contributions during World War I laid an important foundation for the civil rights movement that lay ahead.

Acknowledging the Harlem Hellfighters Achievements

France immediately recognized the Harlem Hellfighters' contributions, awarding the entire Harlem Hellfighters unit the French Croix de Guerre in 1919. But it took almost 100 years for the U.S. to officially recognize the bravery of a single Hellfighter: on June 2, 2015 President Barack Obama awarded Henry Johnson the Medal of Honor posthumously. Then on August 25, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act into law in recognition of these African American heroes’ "bravery and outstanding service during World War I."

Discover Your Harlem Hellfighter Ancestors

Are you curious about your family's connections to World War I or the legendary Harlem Hellfighters? Use the military records at Ancestry^® to identify your WWI ancestors.

If you discover WWI African American heroes in your family tree, sharing their stories is a wonderful way to honor their sacrifices. Begin your research today with a free trial of Ancestry.