Of this duty the 369th was relieved on December 4, and it moved to division headquarters near Ensisheim. On the 13th it took part in the division review, at which time its colors were decorated with the Croix de Guerre for gallantry in action in the Champagne offensive. The recommendation for this citation was made by General LeBouc, with the approval of General Gouraud, Marshal Petain, and General Pershing. The translation of the citation reads as follows:
Citation for Croix de Guerre
161st Division of Infantry, 8th Army Corps, Fourth Army (Aux Armées Françaises)
369th Regiment of Infantry, United States, under command of Colonel Hayward, who though injured insisted on leading his regiment in battle, of Lieutenant Colonel Pickering, admirably cool and brave, of Major Spencer, grievously wounded, of Major Cobb, killed, and of Major Little, a true leader of his men, fought with great bravery, stormed powerful enemy positions energetically defended, captured many machine-guns, large numbers of prisoners and six cannon, and took, after heavy fighting, the Town of Sechault.
One hundred and sixty-seven officers and men received decorations, including the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Croix de Guerre, and the Legion of Honor. Where all were brave it is almost invidious to mention names. Some of the most noteworthy exploits, however, were those of Henry Johnson, Needham Roberts, and Sergeant William Butler. The story of the first two of these men is well known to the American public, as they were the very first Americans to receive the French Croix de Guerre. Their achievement in repulsing a German raiding party of more than twenty men in a hand-to-hand combat served as an incentive to their comrades and as an example for the whole American Army. Johnson’s feat was particularly noteworthy. Soon after the beginning of the encounter Roberts was wounded. Although surrounded by overwhelming numbers, Johnson continued fighting, first using hand grenades, then his rifle until that jammed, when he used the butt of it, hitting right and left. Finally he resorted to his bolo knife as a last means of preventing the capture of himself and his comrade. Although himself wounded, he succeeded in killing four of the enemy and in wounding a large number of the others. In August, while the 369th was in the front lines, and when raiding parties from both sides went out nightly, on one occasion the Germans laid down an encaging barrage, after which they enclosed and captured a raiding party of one officer and four men. Sergeant William Butler, armed with a Chauchaut rifle, attacked the group with such effectiveness that he killed four men and wounded the officer, who was captured and later died, the rest being put to flight. The officer and four men of the 369th meanwhile made their escape and returned to their regiment. A captured German report described Sergeant Butler’s activities as “an enemy group in overwhelming numbers” and stated that because of the superiority of the rescuing party eight Germans, including an officer, failed to return. For his heroism on this occasion Sergeant Butler was decorated by both the French and American Governments.
On December 18 the 369th bade a last farewell to its French comrades in arms and started for Belfort, reaching there on the 20th. It had made an enviable record, serving longer than any other American unit as an integral part of a foreign army. In his report of the operations of the regiment on the western front, Colonel Hayward said: “It had less training than any American unit before action, as follows: 3 weeks at Camp Whiteman, New York; 10 days at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina; 2 weeks with French Army while changing equipment. It had one of the lowest, if not the lowest percentages of venereal infections or drunkenness in the A. E. F. It was 191 days in action in front line trenches, believed to be the longest of any American regiment. It never lost a trench or a foot of ground and never had one of its number captured by the enemy.”
With such a record the 369th turned its steps homeward on January 1, 1919, arriving on the 2nd at Le Mans, where it remained until the 11th. It then entrained for Brest, reaching there on the 12th. The battalions sailed on three ships, and the last contingent arrived in New York, February 12.
It was a happy day for these war-worn heroes when they saw again the Statue of Liberty and set foot on American shores. As one battalion steamed into port, the regiment’s famous band, which had toured France under the direction of Lieut. James Reese Europe and had the distinction of being considered the best musical organization in the American Army, played the “Star Spangled Banner” and the “Marseillaise”; and it was a sight never to be forgotten to see these hardy warriors stand at attention while the national airs of two great allies were being played. As they landed they were applauded by thousands of their kinsmen and countrymen for their glorious deeds; and the greatest reception ever given returning heroes was held for the 369th by the City of New York on February 17, when the regiment, led by its band, marched up Fifth Avenue under the Victory Arch and through Harlem to the plaudits and cheers of tens of thousands who counted it a privilege to honor those who had so gloriously upheld the traditions of their country. At the end of this historic day’s activities, the regiment entrained at night for Camp Upton for demobilization, which was completed March 1. The twelve hundred original survivors were discharged at Camp Upton, while the replacements were sent to the camps nearest their homes.
370TH INFANTRY
The 370th Infantry Regiment, which was otherwise known as “the old 8th” of Chicago, was one of the federalized National Guard units that entered the World War with a record of achievement and with a tradition to uphold. The regiment’s beginning dates back to 1892, when a small group of men in Illinois banded themselves together for the purpose of organizing a battalion of Negro soldiers. The first company was formed with B. G. Johnson as captain, John C. Buckner as first lieutenant, and John R. Marshall as second lieutenant. Three years later a battalion was formed with John C. Buckner as major, and soon afterwards this was admitted to the Illinois State militia as the Ninth Battalion Infantry National Guard. This organization at the time it was formed gave Negro men their best opportunity in the country to gain a knowledge of military tactics, which they found useful when Congress declared war on Spain April 25, 1898.