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Maximum Overkill

Hegseth Recounts Tenacity, Valor of World War I-era Black Infantry Regiment

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth today recounted the tenacity and valor of a World War I-era predominantly Black National Guard unit, as descendants of those soldiers accepted the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of their ancestors' actions during an award ceremony in Washington.

 

Taking place in the U.S. Capitol's Emancipation Hall, the ceremony honored the "Harlem Hellfighters" of the New York National Guard's 369th Infantry Regiment.   

Despite the racial tensions that came with serving in a segregated Army stateside, the men of the 369th became one of the first African American units to serve overseas with the American Expeditionary Force during the war.  

Once in Europe, the Harlem Hellfighters tallied 191 consecutive days of frontline combat — more time than any other American unit.  

Hegseth began his remarks by highlighting the Hellfighters' tenacity by setting the scene at the beginning of the 369th's deployment from New York to France in the winter of 1917. 

He noted that the regiment's ship encountered continuous obstacles — including breaking down and catching fire — resulting in the vessel having to make three attempts at leaving the East Coast between November and December before it could finally make its way toward France.

"And so, they sailed on through cold rain; they were soldiers, volunteers and they were incredible Americans," Hegseth said of the 369th's soldiers as they made their way across the Atlantic.

Hegseth Recounts Tenacity, Valor of World War I-era Black Infantry Regiment > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4293099/hegseth-recounts-tenacity-valor-of-world-war-i-era-black-infantry-regiment/

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1 minute ago, Maximum Overkill said:

the tenacity and valor of a World War I-era predominantly Black National Guard unit,

Honestly I’m glad to see WW1 remembered, period. It was a brutal horrific war.

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1 minute ago, SaintsInDome2006 said:

Honestly I’m glad to see WW1 remembered, period. It was a brutal horrific war.

Respect for all those warriors 

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4 minutes ago, SaintsInDome2006 said:

Honestly I’m glad to see WW1 remembered, period. It was a brutal horrific war.

My grandfather was in that war. Infantry. Only time I held a purple heart was his. 

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12 hours ago, SaintsInDome2006 said:

Honestly I’m glad to see WW1 remembered, period. It was a brutal horrific war.

Luckily it happened before the Trump regime can erase it's historical existence.

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6 minutes ago, Fnord said:

Luckily it happened before the Trump regime can erase it's historical existence.

Really?

Your TDS is really shinning through this morning.

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Just now, Meglamaniac said:

Really?

Your TDS is really shinning through this morning.

Yes, it is. Brightly.

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