Hell Fighters from Harlem by H. Charles McBarron Coffee

From Harlem streets and other New York City neighborhoods they came, members of the only unit to get “over there” with their old State name – the th New York. These black National Guardsmen soon found themselves with a new name, the th Infantry Regiment. Many months after their arrival in the war zone the th Infantry, as part of the French Army’s st Division, marched toward a date with destiny in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. On a fateful day, September , a regimental historian would later remember, “the day dawned clear and cool. There was expectancy in the air.” A fierce artillery barrage preceded the attack by the th, nickname “Hell Fighters” by the enemy. After a brutal struggle during which heavy casualties were sustained Sechault was taken and the th soldiers dug in to consolidate their advance position. The action depicted earned the Croix de Guerre for the entire regiment. But the Meuse-Argonne claimed nearly one-third of these black fighters men as battle casualties. This distinguished National Guard regiments left its proud mark on the AEF as “the regiment that never lost a man captured, a trench or a foot of ” Today’s th Transportation Battalion, New York Army National Guard, carries on the traditions of the gallant “Hell Fighters” of yesterday. Sign up to Mr. Rebates for FREE and save % on any zazzle order in addition to a $5. sign up bonus All Rights Reserved; without: prejudice, recourse or notice ( ) “world war I” “hell fighters from harlem” “black soldiers” “h. charles mcbarron” mcbarron “hell fighters” “national guard” “army national guard” “th new york” “world war 1” “world war one” “black national guardsmen” “th infantry regiment’ “black history month” “st division” sechault “th soldiers” “croix de guerre” aef “th transportation battalion” “new york army national guard” “new york national guard” military war “trench warfare” “the great war”