Stowers & the First World War
African American Soldiers in the First World War: Freddie Stowers and the 371st Regiment
Day 1: October 10, 1917
371st arriving in camp…
“our mob of embryo warriors…No one who saw that outfit could keep from laughing….The halt, the lame, and the blind were there actually. Every colored derelict…must have been picked up when the draft order was received.”
Captain Chester Heywood, US Army
Day 400473: January 26, 1919
371st departing France…
“The 371st has shown the very best qualities of bravery and audacity which are characteristic of shock troops. It launched itself with a superb spirit and admirable disregard of danger at the assault of a position stubbornly held by the enemy. It took it by terrific fighting…”
General Petain, Marshal of France
September 28, 1918 dawned drizzly and foggy in Gratreuil, France. The fierce combat of these last weeks of the First World War represented the last gasp of the Imperial German Army’s determination and Germany’s final chance for victory. The French Army was decimated. Its devastation left Allied victory in the grasp of the American Army’s 93rd Division, composed of the 369th, 370th, 371st, and 372nd regiments. This was an all African -American division fighting under the French Army command because white America refused to fight beside Black men.
The Secretary of War established the 93rd Division as an all African American unit with 4 regiments. This infantry regiment was formed as a temporary solution to the question of what to do with “colored” soldiers during the war. Entrenched racism existed in the American Army in the form of separate and unequal training, facilities, equipment, and treatment. Disrespect for African Americans was endemic in this time period. Blacks were treated as children at best, lower than animals at worst. “We must not eat with them, must not shake hands with them, seek to talk to them or to meet with them outside the requirements of military service. We must
Day 1: October 10, 1917
371st arriving in camp…
“our mob of embryo warriors…No one who saw that outfit could keep from laughing….The halt, the lame, and the blind were there actually. Every colored derelict…must have been picked up when the draft order was received.”
Captain Chester Heywood, US Army
Day 400473: January 26, 1919
371st departing France…
“The 371st has shown the very best qualities of bravery and audacity which are characteristic of shock troops. It launched itself with a superb spirit and admirable disregard of danger at the assault of a position stubbornly held by the enemy. It took it by terrific fighting…”
General Petain, Marshal of France
September 28, 1918 dawned drizzly and foggy in Gratreuil, France. The fierce combat of these last weeks of the First World War represented the last gasp of the Imperial German Army’s determination and Germany’s final chance for victory. The French Army was decimated. Its devastation left Allied victory in the grasp of the American Army’s 93rd Division, composed of the 369th, 370th, 371st, and 372nd regiments. This was an all African -American division fighting under the French Army command because white America refused to fight beside Black men.
The Secretary of War established the 93rd Division as an all African American unit with 4 regiments. This infantry regiment was formed as a temporary solution to the question of what to do with “colored” soldiers during the war. Entrenched racism existed in the American Army in the form of separate and unequal training, facilities, equipment, and treatment. Disrespect for African Americans was endemic in this time period. Blacks were treated as children at best, lower than animals at worst. “We must not eat with them, must not shake hands with them, seek to talk to them or to meet with them outside the requirements of military service. We must