Just before the regiment left for overseas, the colored citizens of Columbia presented it with a flag (March 27, 1918). As the men marched through the principal street of Columbia in full uniform, they presented a wonderful spectacle. The transformation that had been wrought in many of them was almost unbelievable, and mothers, fathers, wives, and friends came from far to see their kinsmen on parade. After receiving the flag the regiment returned to camp, but it was soon on its way to France. William Slovens McNutt, in writing about its departure from Camp Jackson, said that while he was with some officers he heard a great shout outside and the thump, thump, thump of marching soldiers. On looking out he saw a Negro regiment passing in full array. The whole camp was quiet, and the only sound was that of the marching and the cracking of the packs. The black men from the cotton-fields were on their way to France. A big Mississippian standing near swore growlingly under his breath, gulped, and said: “I’m done talking about niggers. These boys have been fine soldiers here, and if they ever get back from France, I’m big enough to lick any man who don’t give ’em a square deal.” Then a soft, quavery voice somewhere in the ranks began the hymn, “Will there be any stars in my crown?” Others took it up, and soon the whole regiment was singing the old church song as the men tramped their solemn way out of camp to put their bodies to the chance of war on a foreign field. The regiment sailed from Newport News April 9, 1918, arriving at Brest on the 23rd. For three days the men drilled, worked, and rested before their next journey to Rembercourt, the training area. One of its first duties was to clean up Rembercourt, and the soldiers were interested to find that the French people would not allow them to remove the cobwebs from the old barns used as billets because of the superstition that their removal would bring harm to the family. Some companies were trained at Marats-le-Grand and others at Marats-le-Petit in the Rembercourt area. Here under French instructors they did intensive work, learning the French system, and the rapidity with which they absorbed the new methods gratified both the French and the American officers. It took the men some time to get used to the French rations, and Colonel Miles meanwhile forbade the sale of French wines or any form of intoxicant to the men in his charge. The 371st was assigned to the 157th French Division. Its training period lasted until June 6, when it was ordered to the St. Mihiel sector to join the 38th Division. While it was proceeding to carry out the orders and the regimental commander was making reconnaissance of the sector, the order was rescinded and the regiment was directed to return to the 13th French Army Corps. It then marched to Sivry-la-Perche, Bois Bourrus, Vigneville, and Bois de Bethlainville, where it supported the 68th Division from June 13 to June 22.