Among the first regiments to arrive in France were National Guardsmen who were already organized and trained. Some of those units were African American National Guard units including the 368th Infantry, the famous 369th - also known as the “Harlem Hellfighters," and the 372nd Infantry. All three groups contained among their ranks National Guardsmen from Williamson County. These regiments were assembled into the 92nd Division. The next group of African American soldiers to arrive in France were those who had been drafted. All told, nearly 200 black men from Williamson County served in World War I.
Participation in the war effort was full of contradictions for many African Americans. While America was on a crusade to make the world safe for democracy abroad, the same was not happening at home. The US Supreme Court decision, Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 had - in a now widely discredited decision - allowed for separate but equal treatment under the law. In 1913 President Wilson had ordered the segregation of federal office workers. Additionally, lynchings of African Americans were continuing across the south - including in Tennessee. In 1917, 10,000 African Americans had participated in a silent parade in New York City to protest the violence. The following year, as the war raged, 2,000 men marched in Nashville to the Tennessee State Capitol to implore Governor Rye to intervene to stop violence against African Americans.
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| Front page of The Nashville Globe, Fri, Feb. 22, 1918 |
As the Army began drafting both black and white soldiers, the men were divided into segregated units and the black soldiers initially had to serve under white officers - similar to the way things had been done in the US Colored Troops during the Civil War. As a result of protests, the Army relented and began to train African American officers; however, these soldiers were never allowed to command white troops.
As a result of the draft and enlistments, 380,000 African American soldiers served in the Army during WWI. Approximately 200,000 were sent to Europe. More than half of those sent abroad were assigned to labor and stevedore battalions, where they performed essential support duties, building roads, bridges, and trenches in support of the front-line battles. Approximately 42,000 African American soldiers were involved in combat.
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| True Sons of Freedom, Chas. Gustrine, Chicago, 1918. Library of Congress. |
At least ten men from Williamson County have been identified as serving in the advance troops who were first sent to France and served with French Infantry Troops. These men were:
367th Infantry
367th Infantry
- Lafayette Rufus Crump, born in Franklin, served in Company I - grandson of Granville and Katherine Crump, who I described in this blog post.
368th Infantry
· Pvt Ollie Epps, born in Williamson County, served in Company K
· Pvt George Kinnard, born in Franklin, served in Company D
· Sgt. Edward Lawrence, lived on Natchez Street, Franklin
· Pvt Joseph Moore, born in Brentwood, served in Company K
· Pvt Robert Williams, from Franklin, machinist, served in Company K
369th Infantry – the Harlem Hellfighters
· Pvt James Thomas Johnson, born in Franklin, served in Co G; he was killed in France and is buried there – his mother died of grief shortly after his death
372nd Infantry
· Pvt Dan Carter, born in Brentwood, served with Company K
· Pvt Richard Fleming, born in Franklin, Company K, 386thInfantry – then Co L, 372nd Infantry
· Pvt James Nesbitt, Company K, lived in Franklin
· Pvt Henry Perkins, lived in Hard Bargain in Franklin – didn’t come home on the Leviathan with everyone else because he had been evacuated to a hospital (his mother was listed as Maggie Kinnard of Nashville)
At the bottom of the post, I will list all the names of the African American men from Williamson County who served in World War I, but first I wanted to explore more deeply the story of one particular group - the men who served in "Unattached Company G."
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| The Nashville Globe Friday, Aug 2, 1918 An immense crowd gathered at Union Station in August 1918 to send off the black troops from the Nashville area. |
372nd Infantry / Unattached Company G
The story of the local African American World War I veterans who served in Company G has been largely untold. At the time that WWI began, Company G was touted as the only black military organization in the south – the other four national guard units were from northern states – and middle-Tennessee’s African American community was justly proud of its well-drilled and organized men.
The story of the local African American World War I veterans who served in Company G has been largely untold. At the time that WWI began, Company G was touted as the only black military organization in the south – the other four national guard units were from northern states – and middle-Tennessee’s African American community was justly proud of its well-drilled and organized men.
As early as 1881, newspapers refer to African American national guard units from Nashville participating in reunions - the forefathers of Company G.
Later, numerous newspaper accounts provide insight into the black community's pride in Company G; they would come out to see them perform at special holidays and events.
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| The Nashville Tennessean, Sunday, November 13, 1881, page 1 |
Later, numerous newspaper accounts provide insight into the black community's pride in Company G; they would come out to see them perform at special holidays and events.
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| The Nashville Globe Friday, Aug 2, 1918 Photograph of Company G in Camp in Nashville prior to the War. |
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| February 1, 1918 Nashville Globe |
In August of 1917, Company G was called into Federal Service and sent to Memphis for 10 weeks guarding bridges. They were under the command of Captain Charles Hadley, a Fisk and Meharry graduate. While in Memphis, reports were received in Nashville that the soldiers were not receiving adequate food or supplies and not being paid. Women in Nashville organized care packages for them and relief programs for their families back home in Middle Tennessee. By December 1917 Company G was sent to Camp Sevier, Greenville, SC and then to Camp Stewart, Newport News, Virginia.
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| The Nashville Globe Friday August 2, 1918 |
Before their departure, in the Spring of 1918, they were renamed Company K of the 372nd US Infantry and assigned to the 93rd Division.
Each of the four segregated infantry regiments of the 93rd Division [the 369th, 370th, 371st & 372nd Infantries] were divided among French military divisions. The soldiers were issued French rations (including red wine) and equipment, most memorably, the distinctive French helmet.
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| Red Hand Helmet |
The 372nd was attached to the well-known French 157th "Red Hand" Infantry Division. During their time in France, the 372nd took part in the Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine and Alsace campaigns. A full discussion of these bloody battles is beyond the scope of this blog post, but I urge readers to educate themselves about the "War to End All Wars" and the trials our local men encountered.
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| Flag of the French 157th Infantry Division, with American flag section commemorating the service of the 371st and 372nd US infantry regiments |
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| The New York Age Sat March 8, 1919 Sergeants of the 372nd "somewhere in France" just before their offensive against Germany |
During their time fighting in France, members of the 372nd regiment had the distinguished record of never surrendering or retreating and their participation in the Meuse-Argonne advance was decisive in ending the war after they took nearly 600 prisoners, and secured large quantities of engineering supplies and artillery ammunition from the Germans.
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| German Propaganda Targeting African American soldiers |
On September 26, 1918, James Thomas Johnson of Franklin, Tennessee was killed in the Meuse-Argonne offensive and his body was buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. According to records compiled after the War, his mother Julia died of grief a few months after his death. He was survived by his father and two brothers Elmo and Samuel. Samuel was also serving in France and later lost his sight due to exposure to poisonous gas.
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| Headstone of James Thomas Johnson in France |
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November 8, 1918 Nashville Globe
Private Harry Harrison, Company K of the 372nd writing from France and sending regards to the Brooks family. He says their motto is “Old Glory Will Never Hit the Ground” and says the men sang the song “What a Great Time we Will Have When we Reach Berlin!. . .” |
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| The New York Age Sat Feb_8, 1919 |
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| The New York Age Sat Feb 8, 1919 |
While the men were in France, the racial tensions had not completely dissipated. This poignant letter from a member of the 372nd eloquently articulates that while they had been fighting in France for democracy, they wondered: "Will we get our share? [All those with] loved ones fighting for democracy should pray to God that we receive what is due to us after the war is over. . . . Pray that our colored boys, after the war, will get their just division of democracy."
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| The New York Age Sat Oct 12, 1918 |
On the day of the signing of the Armistice, November 11, 1918, the regiment was at Ban-de-Laveline. How the termination of the war was celebrated is told by Sergeant Wm. J. Huntley of the 372nd Infantry, whose account follows:
One of the most inspiring scenes I ever witnessed was today about 11:05 A.M. The Regimental band played 'Marseillaise', 'The Star Spangled Banner' and 'God Save the King.' As soon as the last note was sounded, hilarious cheers, by both soldiers and civilians, were almost deafening. Old men jumped and threw up their hats, women, whose hearts were heavy from a strain caused by a relentless war, waved their hands and aprons in exultant joy and children romped joyously up and down the streets. The bell and chimes on the church, which had been previously silent, sent their resonant peals far and near. Indeed, they rang out 'glad tidings of joy.' In the meantime, the band struck up a lively march and started up the street followed by 'Old Glory', the regimental colors and soldiers, Americans and French. The scene was a beautiful blending of colors---the khaki and the blue. It seemed as if they wanted to assemble in one great family to celebrate the glorious events, and to see the reflection of their own gladness in the faces of their fellow comrades. The street was filled with a solid, slowly-moving and seething mass of humanity. It appeared to me that the brotherhood of the trenches was heralding the brotherhood of men. . . . And thus Monday. the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 1918, was passed.
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| Postcard of Ban-de-Laveline dated June 11, 1915. |
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| The French Croix de Guerre |
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| The New York Age Sat. Feb_1, 1919 |
Upon the cessation of fighting in Europe, the American government felt that it faced a dilemma. Now that African American soldiers had fought to spread democracy abroad the fear was that as they celebrated and relaxed, they would want to socialize and mingle with French women - perhaps even marry them. A letter from the "Negro Subversion" department of the Army encouraged military leaders to bring these soldiers home quickly to avert an "American race war" abroad because when it came to "contact with white women . . . the white man draws the line."
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| November 18, 1918 Letter Regarding the Concern that White Soldiers Will Cause an "American Race War in France" |
Coming Home
In December 1918, orders were issued for the return of the men to America. The regiment did not immediately leave France, however. While waiting for transport, it was decided by the officers and men of the regiment that they would erect a monument with the permission of the French Government, to mark the ground on which so many of their comrades had fallen in battle.
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| 372nd U.S. Infantry Memorial |
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Soldiers of the 372nd Infantry preparing to board ship in France for their return home and discharge in March 1919. Note they are wearing their 93rd Division "Blue Helmet" shoulder patches. One man has a souvenir German helmet hanging from his belt. (Photo by National Archives and Records Administration)
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| The New York Age Sat Apr 12, 1919 |
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| Famous New York [African American] regiment. [African American] children gathered along line of march to extend royal welcome to their daddies of [the] 369th (old 15th New York City) regiment, as the famous fighters pass up Fifth Avenue in welcome home parade. National Archives |
In Nashville, I have found no evidence of a special parade for the men of Unattached Company G. They were probably celebrated as part of a larger parade in March 1919 for the veterans of the War. The relatives of the soldiers needed special badges for admission to the stands to see their men march down Capitol Boulevard.
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| The Tennessean Thursday, March 20, 1919 |
In March 1919, plans were underway in Tennessee to erect a memorial to the fallen soldiers of the state from the War. The State Memorial Commission and other groups were planning to refurbish the Parthenon in Centennial Park and turn it into a War Memorial. However, Jim Crow segregation prevented African Americans from visiting the Park and the Parthenon. When AME Church leaders objected, the plan was scrapped and the current War Memorial Auditorium was constructed instead.
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| The_Tennessean_Thu__Mar_6__1919 |
In Franklin, a group of local women had formed the Army Comfort Circle to honor the 26 white and 6 African American soldiers who died in the War with a marker at the Courthouse. Those plans came to fruition in 1922. Reflecting the customs and values of the time, the names of the Black soldiers were listed separately (and second) under the heading "Colored."
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| The_Tennessean_Sun__Feb_12__1922 |
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| Tablet Installed on the Front of the Williamson County Courthouse |
Although the regiment was deactivated after World War II, the 372nd is perpetuated by the Ohio National Guard's 237th Support Battalion and the District of Columbia's 372nd Military Police Battalion. Both states provided men to support the War effort.
A good resource for further reading on this topic is the book American Negro in the World War. In addition, many documents are on display at the AFrican American Heritage Society of Williamson County's McLemore House - which is open for tours Friday and Saturdays from 10 am - 2 pm.
Williamson County's African American WW1 Veterans
* = confirmed service abroad
Died in the War
- Pvt. Leighton Hodge
- Pvt.Wesley N. Thomas, born & buried in Franklin, killed in France
- Pvt. Richard Allen Fly, died of disease, 158th Depot Brigade
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| Headstone of Wesley N. Thomas at Franklin's Toussaint L'Ouveture Cemetery |
- Beech Abernathy*, born in Maury County, lived on Natchez Street, Franklin
- Richard Alexander*, born in Thompson’s Station, POW EscortCharlie Andrews*, born in College Grove
- James Bailey, born near Spring Hill
- James Baugh, born in Franklin
- Joe Bell, born in College Grove, sent to School for Bakers and Cooks
- Robert Bennett*, born in Triune, living at 208 Lewisburg Avenue, Franklin
- William Berry*, born in Brentwood
- Roy Biggers, born in Lewisburg, living in Allisona
- Jessie Black /
- Robert Blackburn, born in Franklin
- Theoplis Blakemore, born in Franklin
- Jimmie Bloomfield*, born in Franklin
- Albert Bolyjack, born in Nolensville
- Sgt. Andrew Bolyjack, born in Nolensville
- Pearl Bostick, born new Franklin
- John H. Bowden*, born near Franklin
- Columbus Boyd
- Larkin Bradley*, born in Franklin
- Morris Brice*, born in Franklin, buried in Toussaint L’Ouveture Cemetery (d. 1967)
- John H. Britten, born in Williamson County
- Harvey C. Brooks*, born in Thompson’s Station
- Lee N. Brooks*, born in Thompson’s Station
- Gabe J. Brown*, born in Franklin
- Gus Brown, born in Franklin
- Howard Brown, born in Williamson County, Student Army Training Corp – Fisk University
- James Brown*, brown in Franklin, POW Escort
- John W. Brown*, born in Boston, Williamson County
- Willie Brown*, born in Franklin
- Thomas Buford, born in Spring Hill
- Will Carney*, born in Arrington
- Dan Carter*, born in Brentwood, served with Co K 372ndInfantry
- Sam Carter, born in Franklin, wounded
- Major W. Christman*, born in Spring Hill
- Clarence Church, born in Franklin
- Alonzo Clay*, born in Franklin
- Felix Claybrooks, born in College Grove
- Will D. Claybrooks*, born in Williamson County
- Columbus Boyd, born in Franklin
- Pomp Compton, born near Brentwood
- James Conn, lived in Franklin
- John Copeland, born in Nolensville
- Maurice Covington, born in College Grove
- Charles Cowans, born in Hillsboro (Leiper’s Fork)
- Robert J. Cowans, born in Franklin
- George Davis*, lived in Franklin, POW Escort
- Samuel Dobson*, born in Brentwood, Company K, 386thInfantry
- Robert Dotson, born in Thompson Station
- John Douglas*, born in Marshall County, living in Franklin
- Thomas H. Douglas*, born in Davidson County, living in Bethesda, Williamson County
- Eugene Downing, born in Williamson County
- Ollie Epps*, born in Williamson County, served in Co K, 368thInfantry
- Aaron Fitzgerald*, born in Thompson’s Station
- James Fitzgerald*, born in Williamson County
- Percy Fitzgerald*, born in Franklin
- Richard Fleming*, born in Franklin, Company K, 386thInfantry – then Co L, 372nd
- Charlie Floyd*, born in Williamson County
- Sam Fuller*, born in Franklin
- Willie Gardner, born in Franklin (lived in Hard Bargain)
- Earl Garrett, lived in College Grove
- German Gentry *, born in Franklin
- Homer J. Gentry, born in Franklin, Student Army Training Corp – Normal School, Pine Bluff Arkansas
- Joseph Gibson, born in Franklin
- Walter Gipson, born in College Grove
- Walter E. Gooch*, born in Nolensville
- Andrew L. Gosey*, born in Franklin
- Dave Gosey*, born in Williamson County
- Melvin Green, born in Brentwood
- Robert L. Guthrie*, born in Nolensville
- Gary Haddox*, born in Thompson’s Station
- Alexander R. Hardeman*, born in Franklin
- George Hardey, born in Franklin
- Alex Harper, born in Franklin
- Charles Harrison, lived in Arrington
- John H. Harrison, born in Franklin
- Jim A. Hatcher*, born in College Grove, POW escort
- Marvin P. Hatcher, born in Williamson County
- Elwood Hawkins, lived in Brentwood
- Arthur Haynes, born in Franklin
- Corporal Robert Henderson*, born in Franklin
- James House, lived in Franklin
- Jim Hughes, born in Franklin (lived on Natchez Street)
- Corporal Henry Hunt Jr., born in Brentwood
- James Hunter*, born in Franklin
- Walter Hunter, born in Franklin (lived on Natchez Street)
- Ike Hyde, born in Nolensville
- Earnest Jenkins, lived in Franklin
- Early Jobe*, lived in Arrington
- John H. W. Johnson, born in Eagleville
- Samuel L. Johnson*, born in Franklin
- James T. Johnson*, born in Franklin, served in Co G 369thInfantry (Harlem Hellfighters) – KIA (buried in France)
- Will Johnson, born in Nolensville
- Wilson Johnson, born in Franklin
- John H. Jones, born in College Grove
- James King, born in Nolensville
- Clim Kinnard, born in Franklin
- George Kinnard*, born in Franklin, Company D, 368thInfantry
- John Kinnard, born in Franklin, attended School for Bakers and Cooks
- Robert Lane, born in Arrington
- Sgt. Edward Lawrence*, 368thInfantry (Natchez Street)
- Henry Leach, born in Franklin
- Leslie Legg*, born in Franklin
- James F. Lester, born in Franklin (Hard Bargain)
- Harvey Love*, lived in Thompson’s Station
- King S. Marks, born in Franklin
- Gid (Gideon) Mayberry, born in Franklin
- Lee N. Mayberry*, born in Franklin
- Robert F. Mayberry, born in Leiper’s Fork, buried in Toussaint L’Ouveture in Franklin
- Robert Mays, lived in Allisona, Williamson County; buried in Nashville National Cemetery
- Crockett McLaren*, born in Franklin
- John Henry McGavock, born in Franklin
- Henry A. McKissack, born in West Harpeth (Southall)
- John H. McLemore*, born in Franklin
- Allen Meggs Jr. born in Franklin
- Tom Mitchell*, born in Franklin, Company K, 356thInfantry
- Joseph Moore*, born in Brentwood, Co K, 368thInfantry
- Major Moore*, born in Franklin
- Russell Moore, born in Franklin
- George G. Moss, born in Franklin
- Albert Murray*, born in Franklin (lived in Hard Bargain)
- Harry Murray*, born in Franklin (lived in Hard Bargain)
- Robert Murray, born in Franklin
- James Nesbitt, lived in Franklin*, Co K 372ndInfantry
- Hugh Nichols, lived in Frankin
- Tyree North, born in West Harpeth (Southall), Student Army Training Corp (Hampton Institute)
- John T. Oden, born in Thompson’s Station
- Sherman Olledge*, born in Columbia (Maury), lived in Franklin
- James A. Osteen*, lived in College Grove
- Mark Owen*, born in Brentwood
- James P. Page, born in Franklin
- Dee Patton, born in Franklin
- Albert Brown Perkins, born in Triune
- Henry Perkins*, 372nd Infantry lived in Hard Bargain in Franklin
- Ike Perkins, born in Arrington
- John Perkins, born near Nolensville
- Will Perkins, mother listed as Maggie Kinnard living in Nashville, 387thCo K
- William Phillips, lived in Franklin on Strahl Street
- Hardy C. Pope born in Franklin
- John F. Reams*, born in Franklin
- Robert Reams, born in Franklin
- John T. Reynolds*, lived near College Grove
- Tom Ridley, born in West Harpeth (Southall)
- Pete Roberts*, born in Franklin
- Early Robertson*, born in Forrest Home community of Williamson County
- Clyde Robinson*, born in Franklin
- Will Robinson*, born in Tampa, Florida, lived in Franklin
- Jimmie Rose, born in Lynnville, Kentucky, lived in College Grove
- Clyde H. Rucker*, born in Allisona
- Tom Sanford, born in Thompson’s Station
- Will Sanford, born in Thompson’s Station, attended School for Baker’s & Cooks
- Henry Sawyers, born in Arrington
- John H. Sawyers, born in Williamson County
- Alfred Scales*, born in College Grove
- Ellis Scales, Jr., born in College Grove
- Richard Scales, born in Triune
- William James Scruggs, born in College Grove
- Elbe Scruggs, born in Franklin (lived on Natchez Street)
- James Scruggs*, born in Franklin
- John Henry Scruggs, born in Franklin
- John W. Scruggs, born in Franklin
- Willie R. Secrest, born in Nashville, lived in Franklin
- Gennie J. Smith*, born in Franklin
- Robert Lee Smith, born in Franklin
- Tom Smith, born in Franklin
- Rob T. Southall, born in Franklin
- Tom Southall, born in Franklin
- James Starnes*, born in Brentwood
- Marvin Starnes*, born in College Grove
- Ellis Taylor*, lived in Franklin
- Lish Taylor, lived in Franklin
- Samuel H. Taylor, born in Franklin
- Brian Thompson*, born in Franklin, POW Escort
- Sam Taylor*, born in Franklin, 304thInfantry
- Lewis Thompson*, born in Thompson’s Station
- Walter Thompson*, born in Franklin
- McKinley Voorhies, born in Brentwood
- Quintard Waddy, born in Franklin (lived in Hard Bargain)
- Bennie Wagner*, lived in Franklin, POW Escort
- Allen Walton, born in Thompson’s Station
- Wesley Watkins, born in Brentwood
- Cpl. Andrew Watson, born in Franklin (Hard Bargain)
- Lucian H. Webb*, born in Arrington
- Gus S. Webster*, born in Franklin
- Johnnie West
- Jim White*, lived in Franklin
- Paul White*, lived in Franklin
- Eddie W. Whitsey, born in Franklin
- Albert Williams*, lived in Brentwood
- Ostranda B. Williams*, born in Franklin
- Alex Wilson*, born in Franklin
- Benjamin Wilson*, born in Franklin
- Charles Wilson, born in Williamson
- John L. Winstead*, born in Franklin
- Lee Winstead, born in Brenwood
- Noble Winstead*, born in Franklin
- Joe E. Word, born in Franklin, Williamson County, lived on Natchez Street
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