Opening the text

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

The Marbache sector was an active front and time and time again the boys
went ahead repairing lines and establishing new communications under
shell fire, with no heed to personal danger--inspired only by that ideal
of the Signal Corps man--get communication through at any cost, but get
it through.

On the morning of November 10th, when the Second Army launched its
attack on the famous Hindenburg line before Metz, the 92nd Division held
the line of Vandieres--St. Michel, Xon and Norry. The engagement lasted
for twenty-eight hours continuously, during which time the Signal Corps
functioned splendidly and as one man, keeping up communications,
installing new lines and repairing those shelled out.

One of the most exciting incidents was that participated in by the First
Platoon of the Signal Battalion on the first day of the Metz battle.
Shortly after the lighter artillery barrage was lifted, the big guns of
the enemy began shelling Pont a Mousson. The first shells hit on the
edge of the city and then they began peppering the Signal Battalion's
station.

Sergeant Rufus B. Atwood of the First Platoon was seated in the cellar
near the switchboard; Private Edgar White was operating the switchboard,
and Private Clark the buzzerphone. Several officers and men were
standing in the "dugout" cellar. Suddenly a shell struck the top, passed
through the ceiling and wall and exploded, making havoc of the cellar.

[Illustration: OFFICERS OF THE 15TH NEW YORK (369TH INFANTRY), MARCHING
IN PARADE PRIOR TO THE WAR. LEFT TO RIGHT--COL. WM. HAYWARD, BERT
WILLIAMS. FAMOUS COMEDIAN AND DR. G. McSWEENEY.]

[Illustration: AFTER THE WAR. ONE OF THE NUMBER OF AUTOMOBILES BEARING
WOUNDED OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE 15TH NEW YORK (369TH INFANTRY).
MAJOR DAVID L. 'ESPERANCE (WITH HELMET) AND MAJOR LORRILARD SPENCER.]

[Illustration: A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF NEGRO OFFICERS OF "MOSS'S
BUFFALOES" (167TH INFANTRY). THE LITTLE LADY WITH THE BOUQUET IS ONE OF
THEIR FRENCH ACQUAINTANCES.]

[Illustration: CAPTAIN JOHN H. PATTON, REGIMENTAL ADJUTANT, 8TH
ILLINOIS INFANTRY. FROM JUNE 26, 1916, TO SEPTEMBER 11, 1918. COMMANDING
2ND BATTALION, 370TH INFANTRY, FROM SEPTEMBER 11. 1918, TO DECEMBER 25.
1918. SAINT MIHIEL SECTOR FROM JUNE 21, 1918, TO JULY 3, 1918. ARGONNE
FOREST FROM JULY 6, 1916, TO AUGUST 15, 1918. BATTLES FOR MONT DES
SIGNES, FROM SEPTEMBER 16 TO 30, 1918. OISE-AllSNE OFFENSIVE, FROM
SEPTEMBER 717 1918. TO NOVEMBER 11, 1918. AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE
GUERRE FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE COVERING PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER 11 TO
NOVEMBER II, 1918.]

[Illustration: EMIL LAURENT, NEGRO CORPORAL OF 8TH ILLINOIS (370TH
INFANTRY), A CROIX DE GUERRE WINNER, ENGAGED IN FIELD TELEPHONE SERVICE
IN A FRENCH WOOD.]

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.