History of the American Negro in the Great World War: His Splendid Record in the Battle Zones of Europe; Including a Resume of His Past Services to his Country in the Wars of the Revolution, of 1812, the War of Rebellion, the Indian Wars on the Frontier, the Spanish-American War, and the Late Imbroglio With MexicoSweeney, William Allison
History
History of the American Negro in the Great World War: His Splendid Record in the Battle Zones of Europe; Including a Resume of His Past Services to his Country in the Wars of the Revolution, of 1812, the War of Rebellion, the Indian Wars on the Frontier, the Spanish-American War, and the Late Imbroglio With Mexico
Sweeney, William Allison
African American soldiers; African Americans -- History -- 1877-1964; World War, 1914-1918 -- Participation, African American
Major Benjamin P. Morris, who commanded the Third Battalion, has stated
that in the drive which started September 26th, he lost nearly 25 per
cent of his men through wounding or gassing. The battalion won eight
Distinguished Service Crosses in that attack and the Major was
recommended for one of the coveted decorations.
The regiment lost forty-four men killed in action, thirteen died from
wounds and eight were missing in action. The list of wounded and gassed
ran over three hundred.
Individual exploits were quite numerous and were valiant in the extreme.
Here is an instance:
It became necessary to send a runner with a message to the left flank of
the American firing line. The way was across an open field offering no
covering or protection of any kind, and swept by heavy enemy machine gun
fire.
Volunteers were called for. A volunteer under such circumstances must be
absolutely fearless. The slightest streak of timidity or cowardice would
keep a man from offering his services. Private Edward Saunders of
Company I, responded for the duty. Before he had gone far a shell cut
him down. As he fell he cried to his comrades:
"Someone come and get this message. I am wounded."
Lieutenant Robert L. Campbell, a Negro officer of the same company
sprang to the rescue. He dashed across the shell-swept space, picked up
the wounded private, and, with the Germans fairly hailing bullets around
him, carried his man back to the lines. There was the case of an officer
who considered it more important to save the life of a heroic, valuable
soldier than to speed a message. Besides the wounded man could proceed
no farther and there were other ways of getting the message through and
it was sent.
[Illustration: WOUNDED NEGRO SOLDIERS CONVALESCING IN BASE HOSPITAL. IN
THE PICTURE ARE TWO COLORED WOMEN AMBULANCE DRIVERS.]
[Illustration: SAMPLE OF IDENTITY CARD CARRIED BY SOLDIERS OF THE
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES. EACH IDENTIFICATION WAS PRINTED IN
ENGLISH AND FRENCH AND INCLUDED A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE OWNER. THE NUMBER ON
THE CARD CORRESPONDING WITH A METAL TAG ON THE MAN'S ARM.]
[Illustration: NEGRO OFFICERS OF 366TH INFANTRY WHO ACHIEVED
DISTINCTION IN FRANCE. LEFT TO RIGHT. LIEUT C.L. ABBOTT, CAPT. JOS. L.
LOWE, LIEUT. A.R. FISHER, CAPT. E. WHITE.]
[Illustration: DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS OF THE 6TH ILLINOIS (370TH
INFANTRY). FIRST ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT, CAPT. D.J. WARNER, A.H. JONES.
LIEUT. E.G. WHITE, LIEUT. J.D. RAINEY, LIEUT. BERNARD McGWIN. SECOND
ROW--LIEUT. LUTHER J. HARRIS, LIEUT. ALVIN M. JORDAN, LIEUT. E.L.
GOODLETT, LIEUT. J.T. BAKER. THIRD ROW, LIEUT. F.J. JOHNSON, LIEUT.
JEROME L. HUBERT.]
[Illustration: DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS OF 8TH ILLINOIS (370TH INFANTRY).
LEFT TO RIGHT, LIEUT. LAWSON PRICE, LIEUT. O.A. BROWNING, LIEUT. W.
STEARLES, CAPT. LEWIS E. JOHNSON, LIEUT. EDMOND G. WHITE, LIEUT. F.W.
BATES, LIEUT. E.F.E. WILLIAMS, LIEUT. BINGA DISMOND.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account