Printed by
Unidentified
Subject of
Cpl. McVey,, Lawrence Leslie Sr., American, 1897 - 1968
Written by
Cpl. McVey,, Lawrence Leslie Sr., American, 1897 - 1968
Subject of
369th Infantry Regiment, American, 1913 - 1945
Date
1918
Medium
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper, with graphite on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 3 9/16 × 5 1/2 in. (9 × 14 cm)
Caption
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
A black-and-white photographic postcard of Corporal Lawrence McVey in uniform posing with a cane. McVey stands in the center of a studio with a backdrop of an open window overlooking a forest. He is leaning his proper right arm on a square column stand and holding his gloves and cane in his proper left hand. The photograph has multiple tears throughout and a large area of loss at the top center. On the reverse side dark stains can be seen on the top right edge and bottom horizontal edge. On the reverse is a handwritten message. Typed text on the horizontal side of the post card reads, [CARTE POSTALE / Correspondance / Adresse]. The handwritten note begins below [Correspondence] and continues on the right side of the vertical line. McVey is writing to his sister and sending her his address so she could write back to him. The text reads:
Dear sister just a few / lines to let you know / I am well and happy. / [text missing] I only hope you / [text missing] [illegible] are / [text missing] I received a letter / [text missing] sister and she / also sent me the Babies / photos and sister they / are so very cute gee I / would like to see them / now just to kiss their / [sweet?] little face I am / moving now and as / [soon?] as they get where / they are going I will / write you a letter / I am as ever your / loving soldier Brother / pvt LL McVey / Co D. 369th R.I. US. / SP. 103 American E.F. / France / P.S. give my love and / best wishes to all I / sent mama and [Willie?] / a photo also
Place made
France, Europe
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
portraits
photographic postcards
Topic
Military
Photography
World War I
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Gina R. McVey, Granddaughter
Object number
2011.108.14
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd516420f63-04f5-4bd8-9bd7-aebf978e4c85

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

Share this page