Thousands of brave African-American soldiers were honored as they marched seven miles up Fifth Avenue to Harlem, two years after they were barred from farewell parades because 'black was not a color of the rainbow.'
These stunning images show the glorious heroes' welcome they received from white and black Americans as they marched through New York after defeating the Kaiser in WWI.
Originally known as the 15th New York, an African-American regiment in a segregated Army and National Guard, the men of the 369th Infantry Regiment distinguished themselves in combat, fighting with the French Army.
They spent 191 days on the front - the most of any American regiment - and sustained 1,500 casualties - more than any American regiment.
Prior to their departure in 1917 a commander of the 15th asked to march in New York with the 42nd - nicknamed the 'Rainbow Division' - but was told by the commander that 'black was not a color of the rainbow.
Among them was Sgt. Henry Johnson who was awarded the Croix de Guerre for his brave fighting in the notorious Argonne Forest late in the war.
Historians believe Johnson may have been outnumbered by as many as 24 Germans as a raiding party descended on him - he earned himself the nickname 'the Black Death' after he wiped out four of them and sent the rest running.
The color guard of the 369th Infantry Regiment parades up Fifth Avenue in New York as thousands of men, women and children packed the streets to watch more than 2,000 of the 'Harlem Hellfighters' who distinguished themselves on the battlefields of France during WWI and helped defeat the Kaiser. The New York Times reported: 'The entire regiment was awarded the Croix de Guerre. Under fire for 191 days they never lost a prisoner or a foot of ground.' The paper was full of praise for the men that day, with the headline: 'Fifth Avenue Cheers Negro Veterans'
Originally known as the 15th New York, an African-American regiment in a segregated Army and National Guard, the men of the 369th Infantry Regiment were barred from a farewell parade in 1917 because a company commander of a division, known as the 'Rainbow Division' said 'black was not a color of the rainbow.' On their return the Times wrote: 'The negro soldiers were astonished at the hundreds of thousands who turned out to see them and New Yorkers, in their turn, were mightily impressed by the magnificent appearance of these fighting men'
Soldiers of the 369th Infantry Regiment parade up Fifth Avenue to a heroes' welcome as flags saying 'Welcome Home' fly from the skyscrapers and white and black American cheer them home. As the made the seven mile walk members of the public threw the men packs of cigarettes, flowers and sweets. The regiment spent more days than any other American unit on the front-lines with 191 days, and suffered the most casualties with 1,500.
Sgt. Henry Johnson of the 369th became a U.S. Army legend: he killed four Germans and chased away 24 others after they overran his position. 'They fled in fear as Pvt. William Henry Johnson wielded his bolo knife, hacking away at them after expending his bullets,' an Army article detailed. 'The French and American Soldiers, he served with on the battlefields of France during World War I, were in awe of him following that epic struggle.'
Soldiers of the 369th Infantry Regiment band stand at rest as they wait to march up Fifth Avenue in New York City on February 17, 1919 during the parade. The
