Suozzi and Espaillat with the help of Congressional Black Caucus Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to honor the Harlem Hellfighters

Today, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), with the help of the Congressional Black Caucus, introduced The Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act, legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 369th Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the 'Harlem Hellfighters.' Through the help of Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, and Congressman Steve Horsford, the legislation has received overwhelming bipartisan support, garnering more than 290 cosponsors prior to formal introduction.

During WWI, the Harlem Hellfighters were not permitted to fight alongside their fellow white soldiers in the United States Army. They were instead assigned to the French who issued them their weapons and helmets. Despite the racism and segregation they faced, these U.S. soldiers, wearing their United States uniforms, went on to be the most active regiment during all of WWI.

'It is never too late to do the right thing. The Harlem Hellfighters must now be properly recognized for their invaluable contribution to our country,' said Rep. Suozzi. 'My hometown of Glen Cove was home to nearly three dozen Harlem Hellfighter heroes. The bravery, dedication, and sacrifices of the Harlem Hellfighters, who served 191 days under near-constant enemy fire, impacted the outcome of the first World War and in turn, American history. My legislation to award The Harlem Hellfighters a Congressional Gold Medal is a small but important first step in righting this decades-old injustice.'

'The role that the Harlem Hellfighters played during the liberation of Western Europe and the story of the 369th Infantry Regiment cannot be understated,' said Rep. Espaillat. 'This group of distinguished African American and Puerto Rican men never lost a man or a trench to the enemy, and they helped our nation and allied forces secure victory - for these invaluable contributions, they must be properly recognized. The Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act is a crucial first step to honor these men for their bravery, dedication, perseverance, and service to our nation.'

'More than 100 years after the Harlem Hellfighters first stormed into battle, their courage and bravery continues to inspire new generations of warriors,' said Rep. Steven Horsford. 'Despite prejudice and outright segregation, the Harlem Hellfighters earned the respect of our allies and the fear of our enemies. After spending more time in ongoing combat than any American unit of their size, the Harlem Hellfighters returned home as highly-decorated heroes and secured their place in history. The Congressional Black Caucus is glad to be part of this important effort to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Harlem Hellfighters and ensure that their valor is never forgotten.'

Fighting to ensure the Harlem Hellfighters are recognized for their service has been a priority of Suozzi's. In 2019, Suozzi was approached by the Glen Cove Willett family to help obtain a Purple Heart for Harlem Hellfighter Sgt. Leander Willett. After initially being declined for lack of documentation, Suozzi and his office persevered and were able to secure the necessary documentation through the National Personnel Records Center. In November of 2019, at a ceremony at Glen Cove's North Shore Historical Museum, Suozzi surprised the Willett family by presenting a posthumous Purple Heart to Harlem Hellfighter Sgt. Leander Willett 'for wounds received as a result of hostile actions' in France on October 4, 1918.

'The Willett family has served in the United States military dating back to the Civil War. We are extremely grateful to Congressman Suozzi for his efforts to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Harlem Hellfighters, of which my grandfather, Sgt. Leander Willett, was a proud member. It is our hope that this legislation will help educate future generations about the sacrifices made on their behalf. These brave men fought for America and the values we all cherish. As we say in our family, 'long overdue, but just the start.' Thank you to Congressman Suozzi, Congressman Espaillat, and all of the cosponsors of this important legislation. It's never too late to do the right thing,' said Deb Willett.

Brief History of the Harlem Hellfighters, the 369th Regiment Armory:

The Harlem Hellfighters were an African American infantry regiment in WWI who spent 191 days in combat, more than any other American regiment. In 1918, the U.S. Army decided to assign the Hellfighters to the French Army for the duration of American participation in World War I because many white American soldiers refused to perform combat duty with African Americans. The U.S. Army refused to issue the regiment weapons. They were instead issued French weapons, helmets, belts, and pouches, although they continued to wear their U.S. uniforms.

Nicknamed 'Hommes de Bronze' (Men of Bronze) by the French and 'Hollenkampfer' (Hellfighters) by the Germans due to their tenacity, the Hellfighters were the first unit of the French, British or American Armies to reach the Rhine River at the end of the war. The unit earned 11 French citations and a unit Croix de Guerre, and 170 soldiers were individually awarded the French Croix de Guerre.

Despite the courage, sacrifice, and dedication proudly displayed by the Harlem Hellfighters to their country, they returned home to face racism and segregation from their fellow countrymen.

Background on the Congressional Gold Medal:

The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress, to honor those, individually or as a group, 'who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient's field, long after the achievement.' The practice of issuing gold medals to honor recipients from the military began during the American Revolution.

The Congressional Gold medal will be designed and struck by the United States Mint and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution and at events associated with the Harlem Hellfighters. Bronze versions of the medals are struck for sale by the U.S. Mint and may be available in both larger and smaller sizes.

There have been only two other Congressional Gold Medals awarded to distinguished African American military groups: the Tuskegee Airmen in 2007 and the Montfort Point Marines in 2011, both from World War II.

###

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.