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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

Name: 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
Author: Sweeney, William Allison

Sweeney, William Allison

African American soldiers; African Americans -- History -- 1877-1964; World War, 1914-1918 -- Participation, African American

Under the same Lieut. Robert Campbell, a few colored soldiers armed only
with their rifles, trench knives, and hand grenades, picked up from
shell holes along the way, were moving over a road in the Chateau
Thierry sector. Suddenly their course was crossed by the firing of a
German machine gun. They tried to locate it by the sound and direction
of the bullets, but could not. To their right a little ahead, lay a
space covered with thick underbrush; just back of it was an open field.
Lieutenant Campbell who knew by the direction of the bullets that his
party had not been seen by the Germans, ordered one of his men with a
rope which they happened to have, to crawl to the thick underbrush and
tie the rope to several stems of the brush; then to withdraw as fast as
possible and pull the rope making the brush shake as though men were
crawling through it. The purpose was to draw direct fire from the
machine gun, and by watching, locate its position.

The ruse worked. Lieutenant Campbell then ordered three of his men to
steal out and flank the machine gun on one side, while he and two others
moved up and flanked it on the other side.

The brush was shaken more violently by the concealed rope. The Germans,
their eyes focused on the brush, poured a hail of bullets into it.
Lieutenant Campbell gave the signal and the flanking party dashed up;
with their hand grenades they killed four of the Boches and captured the
remaining three--also the machine gun. There was an officer who could
think and plan in an emergency, and evolve strategy like a Napoleon.

First Lieutenant Edward Jones, of the Medical Corps of the regiment, was
cited for heroism at Binarville. On September 27th Lieutenant Jones went
into an open area subjected to direct machine gun fire to care for a
wounded soldier who was being carried by another officer. While dressing
the wounded man, a machine gun bullet passed between his arms and body
and a man was killed within a few yards of him.

In a General Order issued by the commander of the division, General
Martin, Second Lieutenant Nathan O. Goodloe, one of the Negro officers
of the regimental Machine Gun Company, was commended for excellent work
and meritorious conduct. During the operations in the Argonne forest,
Lieutenant Goodloe was attached to the Third Battalion. In the course of
action it became necessary to reorganize the battalion and withdraw part
of it to a secondary position. He carried out the movement under a
continual machine gun fire from the enemy. General Martin said:
"Lieutenant Goodloe's calm courage set an example that inspired
confidence in his men."

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