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Finally, they got their chance. The 369th
became one of the few U.S. units that American commanding general
John J. Pershing
let serve under
French command. Donning French uniforms and taking up French rifles,
these men fought valiantly alongside French Moroccans and
held one of
the widest sectors on the Western Front. They also played a key
role in the Allies' climactic Meuse-Argonne offensive, earning
the name "Hell
Fighters" from their beleaguered German enemy. For its performance
in combat, the entire regiment was awarded the Croix de Guerre,
the
French government's highest military honor.
When Harlem's Hell Fighters were not battling the enemy in the trenches,
their regimental band was thrilling the French public with a revolutionary,
uniquely American style of music: jazz. The band's conductor, Lt. James
Reese Europe, had been one of the first African Americans to perform
at Carnegie Hall. Europe convinced many of his musicians to volunteer
for New York's black regiment, and his all-star band won the admiration
of the French public, leaving an enduring cultural legacy.
The accounts of valor by individual soldiers make for exciting reading,
and the story of James Reese Europe and his band is both inspirational
and ultimately tragic. Steve has written an excellent work of military
social history that captures the essence of the period and of these
brave men's experience.
Praise
for "Harlem's Hell Fighters"
"The story
of James Reese Europe and the Hell Fighters is one of the best I
know, and here it is told superbly. It is a story of bravery and
courage,
creativity and controversy, tragedy and transcendence. It reminds
is, in nearly every line, of the extraordinary contributions African
Americans
have made, not just to American life, but to the very essence of
what it means to be an American."
—Ken Burns,
award-winning filmmaker
"The story of 'Harlem's Hell Fighters' is an important piece of
history, both for America and the world."
—Rod Paschall,
editor of MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History
"A fascinating account of the 369th's contributions to American
and world history, not only in the unit's military might, but also in
the enormously talented regimental band's jazz music, which was much
loved in France." "Riveting prose . . ."
—Lisa Stevens,
Albany Times-Union, August 3, 2003
"Mr. Harris' book is well-researched and carefully annotated social
history. His use of personal memoirs of white officers and black
officers and soldiers of New York's 15th National Guard Regiment allows us to
see these men as they were: flawed and heroic. . . . His writing style
is very readable and reminds this reviewer of authors Stephen Ambrose
and Pulitzer-Prize winner, John Toland."
—Douglas
Fisher, Western Front Association
"Interestingly, Harris gives what could be the fullest account
of one of the more significant stories to emerge from the 369th in
all the many books on blacks in the military. The unit's regimental band
was led by Lt. James Reese Europe, a prominent composer and conductor
on the New York scene, and Noble Sissle, Eubie Blake's later partner
in popularizing black music on Broadway. Europe led a machine-gun
company. All the musicians fought in battle."
—Jack McCray,
"Charleston (S.C.) Post-Courier
"Here is military history with dimensions. . . . In this almost
unrelieved story of injustice and prejudice, the saga of the regiment's
band and the role of James Reese Europe in spreading the rhythms of
American jazz to France is an informative and entertaining diversion."
—R. D. Ward,
emeritus, George Southern University
Choice, a publication of College and Research Libraries
"In his new book, Harris does more than provide the history of
a World War I fighting unit; he provides a larger social history
as well. . . . Moving to the syncopated beat of a jazz tune, this is a
story of one great dream that ends not in the trenches but backstage
in a Boston theater. Highly recommended."
—Brian K.
DeLuca, Booksmatter.Com, Reed Business Information
"Harris has done a magnificent
job of illuminating an important aspect of American military history.
His meticulous research has uncovered new information in the French
archives as well as obscure family archives. His narrative style
is
enthralling and he is able to transport the reader to the place and
time of events and still produce a fine piece of historical research.
This is undoubtably the most comprehensive history of the 369th written,
and deserves to be in the library of every student of African-American
history as well as military historians and music historians. A fine
companion piece to Harris other book on the 7th Regt, one hopes that
he will continue to chronicle the exploits of all the NYNG during
the
First World War.
Harlem's
Hellfighters should be counted with Bernald Naulty's Strength for
the Fight, and
Barbeau's Unknown Soldiers. More than a military history, it is also
a fine lesson in the sociology of the early 20th century and the
paradoxes
of US military race policy. His use of James Reese Europe as the
centerpiece of his work provides a cultural touchstone as one reads
the unfolding
pages. A must have book."
—Five
Star Review, Amazon.Com, by a reader from Shoreham, Vermont.
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