Harlem's Hell Fighters: The African-American 369th Infantry in World War I

There are few American fighting units that have generated as much admiration and myth--in almost equal measure--as the famed 369th U.S. Infantry. The men of one of the storied "colored regiments" that fought with valor in France, Harlem's Hell Fighters have entered the pantheon of African-American military heroes as peers of the Tuskegee Airman and the 54th Massachusetts. Stephen L. Harris has untangled the folklore from the facts in this definitive study. The good news is that the verifiable truth of the valorous service of these brave volunteers is every bit as compelling as fiction could aspire to be. In tight prose and with a storyteller's voice, Harris presents a vivid picture of men who, facing entrenched prejudice at home, head to France where bigotry follows them into the American Expeditionary Forces. When General Pershing fobs them off on the French, they distinguish themselves fighting alongside their exhausted allies and cover themselves with glory. This is a must-read volume for a wide range of readers, from those seeking inspirational nonfiction to serious students of the First World War. Steve Harris does a great service to the memory of these ordinary men who did truly extraordinary deeds.

What a fantastic bit of history. Hard to believe, 100 years feels almost like stepping into another world, a familiar one be it that. Towards the end, while the author did not specifically connect PTSD issues with returning troops from France, the evidence was hard to miss. As a veteran myself, there is some comfort knowing my generation is not alone, war, all war, leaves scars, some are visible while others are not. As for the book, Harris has put together a well researched and documented presentation on a seldom looked at era of history. I loved the connection of early jazz music and the organization the Harlem Hellfighters. I'm also glad to see American Experience have added their story to their Great War documentary. If you're a fan of history and want to learn something new, I totally recommended this book. No bent. No rhetoric. Just data, story, and documentation

The story of William Henry Johnson alone is worth the read. Nicknamed "Black Death" after Johnson single-handedly took out a squad of German soldiers. When Johnson ran out of ammunition, he used the butt of his rifle as a club. With the rifle stock in splinters, Johnson wielded his bolo knife, and the rest is history.

What this unit went through should never be firgotten. The racism these soldiers rose above is matched only by their accomplishments. This unit received so many commendations from the French, including several Croix de Guerre awards (the French equivalent to the Medal of Honor). And they got nothing from the U.S.

Book arrived before its scheduled arrival date with no shipping damage. A positive: the book had a plastic protective cover and the the contents very informativeIt was identified as, "Used-Very Good", however, the inner hard cover was ripped, the plastic cover had a slight rip and most notable it was dirty and stained. Had to rash it with soap and water before I felt reasonably comfortable handling it.

OK book. Lots of time spent on activities before and after the war to flesh out the book a bit. However, there isn't enough history produced about our black American brothers and any insight into their day to day lives is to be cherished.

A great book something that u don’t get from school. They Deserve a lot of gratitude . They fought for a Country that did not give them any respect. And when they maked it back home they were still treated like second-class citizens . I great book!!!!!!

well written and documented research.

Eye opening.