The combat unit that fought under French command and brought jazz to Europe

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Denied a place in their own city's farewell parade, the 369th Infantry Regiment found glory on the front lines. Known as the Harlem Hellfighters, these African American soldiers endured more continuous combat than any other American unit of their size, eventually earning the highest honors from the French government.

The 369th Infantry Regiment, originally established on June 2, 1913, as the 15th New York Infantry Regiment, faced systemic exclusion from the start. Before deploying, the unit was barred from participating in New York’s 'Rainbow Division' farewell parade, with officials infamously claiming that 'black is not a color in the rainbow.' Because many white American soldiers refused to serve alongside them, the regiment was assigned to fight alongside the French 16th Division.

On the battlefield, the unit's ferocity was unmatched. They spent 191 days in front-line trenches, more than any other American unit of its size, and suffered over 1,400 casualties. Their bravery was exemplified by Private Henry Johnson and Private Needham Roberts, who fought off a German patrol even after running out of ammunition; Johnson eventually used a bolo knife to defend his comrade. While the French called them 'Men of Bronze,' it is believed their German enemies first dubbed them 'Hellfighters.'

The regiment's legacy extended beyond the trenches through its regimental band, led by the influential musician James Reese Europe. Enlisting in September 1916, Europe helped transform the unit's fortunes and is credited with introducing jazz to Europe. For their valor, the French government awarded the entire unit the Croix de Guerre and gave individual medals to 170 or 171 members. Though their story was largely forgotten for nearly a century, the Hellfighters returned to a massive victory parade in Manhattan on February 17, 1919.

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