371st Infantry Regiment (United States)

371st Infantry Regiment

Distinctive Unit Insignia
Active 1913–1945
Allegiance United States of America
Branch United States Army
Type Infantry
Engagements

World War I

World War II

U.S. Infantry Regiments
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370th Infantry Regiment 372nd Infantry Regiment

The 371st Infantry Regiment. was an African American regiment, nominally a part of the 93rd Infantry Division (Colored), that served in World War I. On arrival in France, this unit was transferred into the French command, so its decorations are French rather than American. This unit was extremely well decorated, receiving unit and numerous individual citations including Croix de Guerre and Légion d'honneur. The 371st Regiment was seconded to the 157th Infantry Division, and called the Red Hand Division, under the command of General Mariano Goybet.

The 371st was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (United States). Corporal Freddie Stowers of the regiment's 1st Battalion was the only African American soldier from World War I awarded the Medal of Honor.[1]

A monument to the unit, near where Stowers earned the Medal of Honor, was erected in the Meuse-Argonne region, north of Sechault.[2] It was completed after the regiment returned to the United States.[3] During the German invasion of France in World War II, it was damaged by artillery.[2] As of 2008, it remains in that damaged state.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Mark Van Ells (6 March 2015). America and World War I. Interlink Publishing Group, Incorporated. pp. 273–274. ISBN 978-1-62371-067-5.
  2. 1 2 Mark Van Ells (6 March 2015). America and World War I. Interlink Publishing Group, Incorporated. p. 274. ISBN 978-1-62371-067-5.
  3. ↑ Frank Roberts (15 May 2014). The American Foreign Legion: Black Soldiers of the 93d in World War I. Naval Institute Press. p. 17. ISBN 978-1-61251-506-9.
  4. ↑ Edward G. Lengel (8 January 2008). To Conquer Hell: The Meuse-Argonne, 1918 The Epic Battle That Ended the First World War. Henry Holt and Company. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-8050-7931-9.

External links


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