- Issued by
- United States Army, American, founded 1775
- Date
- after 1942
- Medium
- bronze, metal and ribbon
- Dimensions
- H x W: 5/8 x 1 11/16 x 1/2 in. (1.6 x 4.3 x 1.3 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
- Distinguished Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters. The blue ribbon is surrounded by a gold frame with a leaf pattern. Two bronze oak leaf clusters attached to the ribbon represent an award or decoration. The back has two butterfly clutch pins on each horizontal end. The back of the frame is hollow.
- Place made
- United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Awards, Medals, and Insignia
- Type
- ribbon bars
- Topic
- Military
- World War II
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Gina R. McVey, Granddaughter
- Object number
- 2011.108.8
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




