369th Infantry Regiment Memorial

The fabled 369th Infantry Regiment, often known as the Harlem Hellfighters, is honored by this monument. The 369th infantry made a name for themselves in World War I at Sechault, in Northern France, and are commemorated by this replica of an obelisk made of black granite. The obelisk, which was unveiled on September 29, 2006, the 88th anniversary of the fight, stands 12 feet tall and is adorned with the 369th's crest and rattlesnake symbol.

United States Armed Forces were racially segregated during World War I. The 15th New York Colored Infantry Regiment was created in 1913 as a part of the New York National Guard. The 369th Colored Infantry Regiment was among the first 100,000 American Expeditionary Forces soldiers to arrive in France in December 1917 after being enlisted into federal service by the U.S. Army.

The 369th, a crucial piece of the Fourth French Army, fought on the front line up to the armistice, displaying exceptional bravery. The 369th displayed extraordinary gallantry during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, particularly when liberating Sechault on September 29, 1918, when a third of the regiment incurred wounded.

171 soldiers of the regiment were awarded the Croix de Guerre (Cross of War) for their bravery, while one officer was given the Congressional Medal of Honor. The Harlem Hellfighters were feted by the City with a victory parade along Fifth Avenue upon their return to the United States. The 369th distinguished themselves in Okinawa during World War II, and it afterwards took part in the Korean and Persian Gulf Wars. Today, the unit still exists as a sustainment brigade.

Numerous affiliated groups helped the 369th Historical Society Veterans Association commission this memorial. Additionally, the monument was transported by the U.S. Army Transportation Group from its French fabricator to a German airport before being delivered to New York by the U.S. Air Force. This triangle, which is situated at Fifth Avenue and 142nd Street, was rearranged by NYC Parks. One of the final buildings built in New York City is the 369th Armory, which is just across the street. It was constructed between 1921 and 1933 and mixes art deco and medieval elements. In addition to historical displays and the 369th Sustainment Brigade, the structure still contains a leisure facility run by the Police Athletic League in its old drill shed.

Works Cited

“369th Infantry Regiment Memorial.” NYC Parks, NYC Resources, 23 Nov. 2016, https://www.nycgovparks.org/about/history/historical-signs.

Miller, Richard. “369th Infantry Regiment Memorial Historical Marker.” Historical Marker Database, 10 Nov. 2022, https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=18993.

“Remembering the Harlem Hellfighters.” National Museum of African American History and Culture, 26 May 2020, https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/remembering-harlem-hellfighters.