Harlem Hellfighters

Maeve Kiley

Men of Many Titles

            As Europe was ravaged by the Great War, one American unit spent 191 days in continuous combat, longer

than any other American unit. American troops from other units were called “Black Rattlers” due to the serpent insignia on their uniforms. To the French, they were known as Homme de Bronze (translating to “Men of Bronze. To the U.S. government, they were designated as the 15th New York Colored Regiment before being redesignated the 369th Infantry. However, to the enemy forces, they were called Höllenkämpfer, meaning “Hellfighters.” 

Insignia of the 369th.

            African Americans have fought in every major U.S. conflict, starting with the Revolutionary War. Harriet Tubman, African American abolitionist and freedom fighter, is recognized as the first woman to lead a major U.S. military operation in 1863 during the Civil War. She was not alone; 179,000 African American men served in the Union Army, while 19,000 served in the Navy during the Civil War. The “Buffalo Soldiers” were established in the Spanish-American War as the first all-Black regiment in the U.S. Army. 

            World War I saw a record number of African Americans serving as soldiers, sailors, nurses, and much more. They honorably served their country while still being denied basic rights and legislative protection. Over 380,000 served in World War I, with over 2,000 African American and Puerto Rican soldiers from Harlem, Brooklyn, and the Bronx serving in the 369th Infantry Regiment. They were incredible soldiers renowned for never retreating. Pioneers of equality and a crucial force in turning the tide for the Allied Powers, the Harlem Hellfighters are honored for their courage, determination, and strength.

Background of the Unit

            The unit was formed in 1916 in New York to help with the war effort. The Selective Service Act of 1917 ensured that African American men were drafted into the army, but their units were segregated. Instead of combat, many African American units were assigned to labor roles and mostly commanded by white officers. This decision was due to many White American soldiers refusing to serve alongside African American soldiers. This was true for the 369th Infantry Regiment as well, until the French Army, facing a severe shortage of soldiers, requested American aid. 

            Before being deployed to Europe, they were unjustly refused permission to participate in New York’s National Guard’s Farewell Parade in 1917. This was a racially motivated decision, with reports stating that they could not participate in the “Rainbow Parade” since “black is not a color of the rainbow.” 

            They landed in Brest, France, in December of 1917. The beautiful French city had been ravaged by war, with winter winds raging harsh and strong. Under French command and holding French weapons, they quickly earned a reputation. To their enemies, they were a terrifying force of strength, and to their allies, they were heroes. 

191 With No Surrender 

            World War I was a brutal war with an estimated 15 to 22 million deaths (both military and civilian), with the total number of casualties, including wounded and illness, reaching 40 million. Trenches were particularly horrific, with constant freezing, wet conditions, and numerous illnesses, including the infamous “trench foot.” Pest infestations were frequent, and soldiers faced relentless fire from enemy forces. To spend a day in these conditions would be hellish, but the Harlem Hellfighters spent 191 days. 

            In April 1918, the Harlem Hellfighters earned their name. Under constant fire from German Forces, the Harlem Hellfighters did not lose a foot of ground or have a soldier captured. Tragically, they suffered 1,500 casualties, more than any other American regiment. Yet they held their ground until the armistice agreement. 

            On May 15, 1918, Sgt. Henry Johnson and Pvt. Needham Roberts was on sentry duty in the Argonne Forest. The night air was cold, and the darkness crept around them. Suddenly, German forces, who were preparing to launch a surprise raid on French lines, attacked them. The sound of wire cutters alerted the men to the enemy’s presence, and Johnson commanded Roberts to run back and warn their French allies. Johnson opened a grenade box and attacked the enemy, who returned fire. Roberts returned to help Johnson, but was wounded. Johnson threw all of his grenades and returned fire until he ran out of ammunition, but the enemy still advanced.

            Using his rifle like a club, Johnson engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. He rescued Roberts from capture with his bolo knife. In total, Johnson sustained 21 wounds, but he kept fighting. The enemy raiding party retreated, and Johnson was taken to medical.

For their heroism, Johnson and Roberts were among the first Americans awarded the French Croix de Guerre, France’s highest award for valor. He was nicknamed “Black Death,” and his story spread across the world. 

End of the War

            By summer, the Harlem Hellfighters were fighting in the Champagne-Marne Defensive and the Aisne-Marne Offensive. As they advanced, they captured towns and valuable railroad junctions. However, the price of combat grew, and the advance cost the regiment 851 men in a matter of days. They were relieved from the front lines. 

            In recognition of their bravery, 171 officers were awarded the Croix de Guerre from France, as well as a Croix de Guerre citation to the unit as a whole. 

On February 17, 1919, New Yorkers packed the streets to welcome and cheer as 3,000 Harlem Hellfighters proudly marched up Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, past the 23rd Street area, and into Harlem to the music of renowned African American ragtime and jazz bandleader, James Reese Europe. Family, friends, and lovers rejoiced as their loved ones returned from war. Wounded veterans, such as Sgt. Henry Johnson, waved to the crowds from cars. 

            Despite the warm welcome, the United States government largely ignored the Harlem Hellfighters. The soldiers returned to a segregated United States where they continued to face discrimination. Sgt. Henry Johnson and Pvt. Needham Roberts were denied recognition for their actions (even denying Johnson a Purple Heart or disability allowance, even though he had sustained multiple injuries while serving.) 

The Legacy of the Harlem Hellfighters

            It would be decades of civil rights activism before the hopes of the Harlem Hellfighters would start to be realized. Many of the injustices they faced have begun to be remedied, with Sgt. Henry Johnson posthumously being awarded the Medal of Honor in 2014. In 2020, the Army Center of Military History approved the official special designation of the Harlem Hellfighters. 

            African Americans would continue to serve in World War II. In 1948, President Truman ordered the desegregation of military units, leading to integration during the Korean, Vietnam, Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars. As of 2026, 96 African Americans have been awarded the Medal of Honor for their incredible valor. Due to historical racial discrimination and oversight, many awards were made decades after the actions. 

            The Harlem Hellfighters stood valiantly against intense discrimination and prejudice. They fought for their country valiantly and pushed strongly for an equal future. It is important not just to recognize their accomplishments but to honor their hopes for a better, fairer, and just future. 

Works Cited:

Harlem Hellfighters | Members, battles, & summary | Britannica. (n.d.-a). https://www.britannica.com/topic/Harlem-Hellfighters 

Henry Johnson. National Museum of the United States Army. (n.d.). https://www.thenmusa.org/biographies/henry-johnson/ 

The Harlem Hellfighters: The most storied Black Combat Unit of World War I. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). (2025, March 4). https://www.abmc.gov/news-events/news/harlem-hellfighters-most-storied-african-american-combat-unit-world-war-i/ 

One hundred years ago, the Harlem Hellfighters bravely led the U.S. into WWI. (n.d.-a). https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/one-hundred-years-ago-harlem-hellfighters-bravely-led-us-wwi-180968977/ 

World War I - casualties, Armistice, legacy | Britannica. (n.d.-d). https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-I/Killed-wounded-and-missing 

Remembering the Harlem Hellfighters | National Museum of African American History and Culture. National Museum of African American History & Culture. (n.d.-a). https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/remembering-harlem-hellfighters 

Trench warfare. National WWI Museum and Memorial. (n.d.). https://www.theworldwar.org/learn/about-wwi/trench-warfare