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
The remaining infantry regiment of the Division not heretofore specially
mentioned, was the 366th, a highly efficient organization of selectives
assembled from the mobilization and training camps of various sections
of the country. Like the other regiments of the division, the greater
number of these men were assembled in the autumn of 1917, trained
continuously in this country until the early part of the summer of 1918,
sent to France and given at least two months' intensive training there.
During the training periods their instructors were mostly officers from
the Regular Army or the military instruction schools of this country and
France. Some English officers also assisted in the training. That they
possessed the requisite intelligence for absorbing the instruction they
received is evidenced by the high type of soldier into which they
developed, their records in battle, and the unstinted praise which they
received from their superior officers, the French commanders and others
who witnessed or were familiar with their service.
The 366th went through the campaign in the Marbache sector and suffered
all its rigors and perils. In the final two days of fighting they were
right at the front and achieved distinction to the extent that in the
review at Le Mans they also were singled out by General Pershing for
special commendation. During the campaign the regiment had a loss of
forty-three men killed in action or died of wounds. Seven men were
missing in action. The wounded and gassed were upwards of 200.
In General Orders issued by the commander of the division, First
Lieutenant John Q. Lindsey was cited for bravery displayed at Lesseux;
Sergeant Isaac Hill for bravery displayed at Frapelle and Sergeant
Walter L. Gross for distinguished service near Hominville. These men
were all colored and all of the 366th regiment.
Wherever men were cited in General Orders or otherwise, it generally
followed that they received the Distinguished Service Cross or some
other coveted honor.
CHAPTER XXII
GLORY THAT WONT COME OFF
167TH FIRST NEGRO ARTILLERY BRIGADE--"LIKE VETERANS" SAID PERSHING--FIRST
ARTILLERY TO BE MOTORIZED--RECORD BY DATES--SELECTED FOR LORRAINE
CAMPAIGN--BEST EDUCATED NEGROES IN AMERICAN FORCES--ALWAYS STOOD BY THEIR
GUNS--CHAPLAIN'S ESTIMATE--LEFT SPLENDID IMPRESSION--TESTIMONY OF FRENCH
MAYORS--CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR--SOLDIERLY QUALITIES.
To the 92nd Division belonged the distinction of having the first
artillery brigade composed entirely of Negroes, with the exception of a
few commissioned officers, ever organized in this country. In fact, the
regiments composing the brigade, the 349th, the 350th and 351st were the
first complete artillery regiments of Negroes and the only important
Negro organizations in the artillery branch of the service, ever formed
in this country.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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