The 369th United States Infantry, nicknamed the “Harlem Hellfighters,” was the first African American regiment of troops to reach the battlefields of World War I. The 369th Regiment was formed from the 15th New York National Guard Regiment and was recognized as part of the U.S. Army on July 15th, 1917. The regiment arrived in Brest, France on January 1st, 1918, being the first African American U.S. soldiers to arrive in France and initially assigned to dam building and stevedores in charge of loading and unloading cargo. The 369th Regiment, due to racial tension within the US Army was assigned to the French Army for the duration of US involvement in WWI. The 369th were the first Allied troops of the war to reach the banks of the Rhine. Upon completion of the 369th’s service in the war, the regiment had spent 191 days in combat, the longest of any American regiment. The entire 369th Regiment, in appreciation for their actions in the Maison-en-Champagne campaign, was given the Croix de Guerre, a medal awarded by the French Government for acts of bravery in conflicts against the enemy. In addition to this honor, 171 individual members of the 369th Regiment were awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor. The 369th Regiment finished their service in Europe and returned to the US in February 1919.From "2011.108 Acquisition Justification," written by John Lutz, 7/13/2011; Approved by Michèle Gates Moresi as public caption 07/05/2016.
Description
A black-and-white photograph in a brown cardboard holder. The photo inside is of Lawrence McVey posing in a military uniform, wearing the French Croix de Guerre medal. The photo is embossed [Alva Studio / 2249 SEVENTH AVE. N.Y.]. The inscription, [Forget me not] is handwritten in the top left corner.
The 369th United States Infantry, nicknamed the “Harlem Hellfighters,” was the first African American regiment of troops to reach the battlefields of World War I. The 369th Regiment was formed from the 15th New York National Guard Regiment and was recognized as part of the U.S. Army on July 15th, 1917. The regiment arrived in Brest, France on January 1st, 1918, being the first African American U.S. soldiers to arrive in France and initially assigned to dam building and stevedores in charge of loading and unloading cargo. The 369th Regiment, due to racial tension within the US Army was assigned to the French Army for the duration of US involvement in WWI. The 369th were the first Allied troops of the war to reach the banks of the Rhine. Upon completion of the 369th’s service in the war, the regiment had spent 191 days in combat, the longest of any American regiment. The entire 369th Regiment, in appreciation for their actions in the Maison-en-Champagne campaign, was given the Croix de Guerre, a medal awarded by the French Government for acts of bravery in conflicts against the enemy. In addition to this honor, 171 individual members of the 369th Regiment were awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor. The 369th Regiment finished their service in Europe and returned to the US in February 1919.
Description
A photographic postcard of Lawrence McVey in uniform posing at attention. The word [HERO] is inscribed in pencil on the top right corner. On the reverse, there is adhesive residue and a piece of Scotch tape. In pencil, the inscription [Lawrence in World / War one.].
Due to racial tension within the US Army, the 369th Infantry Regiment was assigned to the French Army for the duration of US involvement in World War I. Formed from the 15th New York National Guard Regiment and nicknamed the "Harlem Hellfighters," the 369th was the first African American regiment to reach the battlefields of World War I and the first Allied troops to reach the banks of the Rhine. Upon completion of the 369th’s service in the war, the regiment had spent 191 days in combat, the longest of any American regiment. In appreciation for their actions in the Maison-en-Champagne campaign, the 369th was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Government for acts of bravery in conflicts against the enemy. In addition to this honor, 171 individual members of the 369th Regiment were awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor. The 369th Regiment finished their service in Europe and returned to the US in February 1919.
Description
Florentine bronze cross patée, with two crossed swords between the arms. The center of the front side shows the symbolic profile of the French Republic: a young woman wearing a Phrygian cap. The words [REPUBLIC FRANCAISE] (French Republic) encircle the portrait. The cross is suspended by a green ribbon with seven narrow vertical red stripes. A bronze star affixed to the ribbon indicates McVey was honored at the regiment or brigade level. The back of the medal has the dates of World War I, [1914 / 1918].
A stereograph produced by the Keystone View Company of an outdoor military scene titled: "V19244 Colored Veterans of the 15th Regt. 369th Infantry, Marching up Fifth Avenue. New York City" below the image. The stereograph is rectangular in shape with two identical albumen photographs that are square-shaped with a curved top edge attached to a gray piece of cardboard. Both images feature the 15th Regiment of the 369th U.S. Infantry in a military formation marching down Fifth Avenue in New York City. Crowds have gathered on either side of the street to view the parade. The left edge of the stereograph contains the following textual information: "Keystone View Company, Manufacturers and Publishers/ Copyrighted, Underwood & Underwood/ MADE IN U.S.A." while the right side contains the following textual information: "Meadville, Pa./ New York, NY./ Portland, Oregon/ London, Eng./ Sydney, Aus.". The back of the stereograph contains a long narrative text describing the event depicted in the photograph. At the top right hand corner inside of a rectangular box is the following information: "SERIES/ 36/ 48/ 100/ 200/ 300 POSITION [BLANK]/ 47/ 99/ 199/ 299".
A World War I Croix de Guerre medal awarded to the 369th Infantry Regiment. The medal consists of a Florentine bronze cross patée, with two crossed swords between the arms. The center of the front side shows the profile of a young woman wearing a Phrygian cap. The words "République française" encircle the portrait. Embossed on the back of the medal is “1914 / 1918.” The cross shaped medal is attached to a green ribbon with seven vertical red stripes.
A black-and-white photograph of the famous 369th infantry's brass band performing at the American Red Cross Hospital Number 5, in Paris, France. The band is performing outdoors, seated in chairs arranged in a half circle around leader Jim Europe. An audience of other soldiers are scattered throughout the image, some lounge on the grass in the foreground and others stand behind the band in the background.
This sheet music is for the song "Good Night Angeline" composed by James Reese Europe, Noble Sissle, and Eubie Blake. It was published by M. Witmark & Sons. The cover has blue and black printed text accompanied by illustrations in blue of a snare drum and a flugelhorn surrounding a black-and-white portrait of Europe. The portrait is below a black-and-white photograph of the 369th Infantry Regimental Band. The interior pages contain the music and lyrics printed in black and white. The back cover has an advertisement for the publisher with the first page of the sheet music for the song "Kiss Me Again" by Henry Blossom and Victor Herbert.