I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3642 

To award a Congressional gold medal to the 369th Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the ‘‘Harlem Hellfighters’’, in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during World War I. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 28, 2021 

Mr. SUOZZI (for himself, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Ms. ADAMS, Mr. 

ADERHOLT, Mr. AGUILAR, Mr. ALLRED, Mr. AMODEI, Mr. ARRINGTON, 

Mr. AUCHINCLOSS, Mrs. AXNE, Mr. BABIN, Mr. BAIRD, Mr. BALDERSON, 

Mr. BARR, Ms. BARRAGA ́N, Ms. BASS, Mr. BERA, Mr. BERGMAN, Ms. 

HERRERA BEUTLER, Mr. BEYER, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. BOST, Ms. BOURDEAUX, Mr. BOWMAN, 

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. BRADY, Mr. BROWN, Ms. 

BROWNLEY, Mr. BUCK, Mr. BURCHETT, Ms. BUSH, Mrs. BUSTOS, Mr. 

BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. CA ́RDENAS, Mr. CARSON, Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Mr. CASE, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, 

Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Mr. CAWTHORN, Ms. CHENEY, Ms. CHU, Mr. 

CICILLINE, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. 

CLEAVER, Mr. CLINE, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. COHEN, Mr. COLE, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. COOPER, Mr. CORREA, Mr. COSTA, 

Mr. COURTNEY, Ms. CRAIG, Mr. CRIST, Mr. CROW, Mr. CUELLAR, Ms. 

DAVIDS of Kansas, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS

of Illinois, Ms. DEAN, Mr. DEFAZIO, Ms. DEGETTE, Ms. DELAURO, Ms. 

DELBENE, Mr. DELGADO, Mrs. DEMINGS, Mr. DESAULNIER, Mr. 

DEUTCH, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of 

Pennsylvania, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. DUNN, Ms. ESCOBAR, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. 

ESTES, Mr. EVANS, Mr. FEENSTRA, Mr. FERGUSON, Mr. FITZPATRICK, 

Mr. FLEISCHMANN, Mrs. FLETCHER, Mr. FOSTER, Mr. FORTENBERRY, 

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. GALLAGHER, Mr. 

GARAMENDI, Mr. GARBARINO, Mr. GARCI ́A of Illinois, Ms. GARCIA of 

Texas, Mr. GOLDEN, Mr. GIMENEZ, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. GOMEZ, Mr. 

GONZALEZ of Ohio, Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ of Texas, Miss GONZA ́LEZCOLO ́N, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. GOTTHEIMER, Ms. GRANGER, Mr. GREEN of 

Texas, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. GROTHMAN, Mr. GUEST, Mr. HAGEDORN, Mr. 

HARDER of California, Mrs. HARTZLER, Mrs. HAYES, Ms. HERRELL, Mr. 

HIGGINS of New York, Mr. HIMES, Mr. HILL, Mrs. HINSON, Mr. 

HORSFORD, Mr. HUDSON, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. HUIZENGA, Mr. ISSA, Ms. 

JACKSON LEE, Mr. JACOBS of New York, Ms. JACOBS of California, Ms. 


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JAYAPAL, Mr. JEFFRIES, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Mr. JOHNSON of South 

Dakota, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. JONES, Mr. JORDAN, Mr. JOYCE

of Ohio, Mr. KAHELE, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. KATKO, Mr. KEATING, Mr. 

KELLER, Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mr. KELLY

of Mississippi, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. KILMER, Mr. KIM of New 

Jersey, Mrs. KIM of California, Mr. KIND, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Ms. 

KUSTER, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. LAMB, Mr. LAMALFA, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. 

LANGEVIN, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. 

LATTA, Mrs. LAWRENCE, Mr. LAWSON of Florida, Ms. LEE of California, 

Mrs. LEE of Nevada, Mrs. LESKO, Mr. LEVIN of Michigan, Mr. LEVIN

of California, Mr. LIEU, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. LUCAS, 

Mrs. LURIA, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. MALINOWSKI, Ms. MALLIOTAKIS, Mrs. 

CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of 

New York, Mr. MANN, Ms. MANNING, Mr. MAST, Ms. MATSUI, Mrs. 

MCBATH, Mr. MCCAUL, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MCEACHIN, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MCKINLEY, Mrs. RODGERS of Washington, Mr. MCNERNEY, 

Mr. MEEKS, Ms. MENG, Mr. MEUSER, Mrs. MILLER of Illinois, Mrs. 

MILLER-MEEKS, Mr. MOOLENAAR, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. MOORE

of Alabama, Mr. MORELLE, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. MRVAN, Mr. MULLIN, 

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina, Mr. NADLER, Mr. NEAL, Mr. NEGUSE, 

Mr. NEHLS, Mr. NEWHOUSE, Ms. NEWMAN, Mr. NORCROSS, Ms. NORTON, Mr. NORMAN, Mr. O’HALLERAN, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. PALAZZO, Mr. 

PALMER, Mr. PANETTA, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. PERLMUTTER, 

Mr. PETERS, Mr. PFLUGER, Mr. PHILLIPS, Ms. PINGREE, Ms. 

PLASKETT, Mr. POCAN, Ms. PORTER, Mr. POSEY, Ms. PRESSLEY, Mr. 

PRICE of North Carolina, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. REED, Miss 

RICE of New York, Mr. RICE of South Carolina, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, Ms. ROSS, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. 

RUIZ, Mr. RYAN, Ms. SA ́NCHEZ, Mr. SARBANES, Ms. SCANLON, Ms. 

SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. SCHNEIDER, Mr. SCHRADER, Ms. 

SCHRIER, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Ms. SEWELL, Mr. SHERMAN, Ms. SHERRILL, Mr. SIRES, Ms. SLOTKIN, Mr. 

SMITH of Washington, Mr. SMITH of Missouri, Mr. SMUCKER, Mr. SOTO, 

Ms. SPANBERGER, Mrs. SPARTZ, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. STANTON, Ms. 

STEFANIK, Ms. STEVENS, Ms. STRICKLAND, Mr. SWALWELL, Mr. 

TAKANO, Ms. TENNEY, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. THOMPSON of 

Pennsylvania, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Ms. TITUS, Mr. TONKO, Mr. 

TORRES of New York, Mrs. TRAHAN, Mr. TRONE, Mr. TURNER, Mr. 

UPTON, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. VEASEY, Mr. VELA, Ms. 

VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. WALBERG, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. WATERS, 

Mr. WELCH, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. WENSTRUP, Mr. WESTERMAN, 

Ms. WILD, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Mr. YARMUTH, Mr. YOUNG, and 

Mr. ZELDIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on 

House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 


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A BILL 

To award a Congressional gold medal to the 369th Infantry 

Regiment, commonly known as the ‘‘Harlem 

Hellfighters’’, in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during World War I. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Harlem Hellfighters 

5 Congressional Gold Medal Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) When the United States officially entered 

9 World War I in April 1917, the Armed Forces were 

10 still segregated, even though African-American sol11 diers had served and distinguished themselves in 

12 every war since the Revolutionary War, and even the 

13 Colonial Wars preceding the American Revolution. 

14 (2) After several years of advocacy and debate, 

15 in 1916 the State of New York authorized the re16 cruitment of the 15th New York National Guard 

17 Regiment, which was called to Federal service on 

18 July 25, 1917, soon after arriving for training at 

19 Camp Whitman, New York. 

20 (3) The 15th completed its basic military prac21 tice training at Camp Whitman, New York. 


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1 (4) To receive combat training, the 15th re2 ported, on October 8, 1917, to Camp Wadsworth, in 

3 Spartanburg, South Carolina, where it experienced 

4 many incidents of racial discrimination. 

5 (5) Consequently, the government agreed to re6 move the 15th from Camp Wadsworth, but, instead 

7 of receiving further training, the regiment began 

8 preparing for deployment to France in November. 

9 (6) The 15th arrived in Saint Nazaire, France, 

10 on January 1, 1918, where it was redesignated the 

11 369th Infantry Regiment. 

12 (7) Partly because many White soldiers within 

13 the American Expeditionary Forces (hereinafter, the 

14 ‘‘AEF’’) refused to perform combat duty with Black 

15 soldiers, members of the 369th were initially as16 signed manual labor tasks, such as loading and un17 loading supplies, and constructing roads and rail18 roads. 

19 (8) After receiving pressure from the 369th reg20 imental commander about not having a combat mis21 sion, the AEF attached the 369th to the French 

22 Fourth Army. 

23 (9) By mid-March of 1918, the 369th went to 

24 the Argonne Forest with the French 16th Division 

25 for training and soon entered the trenches. 


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1 (10) The 369th encountered its first German 

2 soldiers in combat in April, 1918. 

3 (11) In May of 1918, Private Henry Johnson 

4 of the 369th received the French Croix de Guerre, 

5 with Palm, for extraordinary valor, becoming one of 

6 the first American soldiers to be awarded this honor. 

7 (12) Johnson also belatedly received a Purple 

8 Heart, was awarded the Distinguished Service 

9 Cross, and in, 2015, was awarded the Medal of 

10 Honor. 

11 (13) Throughout the remainder of the spring 

12 and into the summer the 369th served at Minacourt, 

13 in the Champagne-Marne Defensive, and during the 

14 Aisne-Marne Offensive in support of the French 

15 161st Infantry Division. 

16 (14) As summer turned to autumn, the 369th 

17 went on to participate in the Meuse-Argonne offen18 sive, where it captured the important village of 

19 Sechault despite sustaining severe losses. 

20 (15) On October 14, 1918, the 369th advanced 

21 to Alsace. 

22 (16) On November 20, 1918, the 369th reached 

23 the banks of the Rhine River as part of the French 

24 Army of Occupation, the first Allied unit to do so. 


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1 (17) The 369th was relieved of its assignment 

2 with the French 161st Division in December, 1918, 

3 and elements of the regiment sailed for New York 

4 in late January and early February, 1919. 

5 (18) The 369th Infantry Regiment received a 

6 parade up 5th Avenue in New York City on Feb7 ruary 17, 1919, receiving applause and cheers from 

8 hundreds of thousands of onlookers. 

9 (19) The 369th was demobilized on February 

10 28, 1919. 

11 (20) Over 170 individual members of the 369th 

12 received the Croix de Guerre, many were awarded 

13 the Distinguished Service Cross, and the 369th was 

14 awarded a unit citation. 

15 (21) It is generally believed that the 369th was 

16 dubbed the ‘‘Harlem Hellfighters’’ by German sol17 diers, who found the men to be incredibly deter18 mined and courageous in battle. 

19 (22) The 369th was the first regiment of Afri20 can Americans to deploy overseas during World War 

21 I and spent 191 days on the front line in World War 

22 I, more than any other American regimental sized 

23 unit. 


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1 (23) The 369th never lost a foot of ground nor 

2 had a man taken prisoner, despite suffering a high 

3 number of casualties. 

4 SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 

5 (a) AWARD AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of the 

6 House of Representatives and the President pro tempore 

7 of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the 

8 award, on behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal 

9 of appropriate design to the 369th Infantry Regiment, 

10 commonly known as the ‘‘Harlem Hellfighters’’, in rec11 ognition of their bravery and outstanding service during 

12 World War I. 

13 (b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purposes of the 

14 award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the 

15 Treasury shall strike the gold medal with suitable em16 blems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the 

17 Secretary. 

18 (c) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the 

20 gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal 

21 shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where 

22 it will be displayed as appropriate and made avail23 able for research. 

24 (2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 

25 Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should 


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1 make the gold medal received under this Act avail2 able for display elsewhere, particularly at other loca3 tions and events associated with the Harlem 

4 Hellfighters. 

5 SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 

6 Under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treas7 ury may prescribe, the Secretary may strike and sell dupli8 cates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 

9 3(b), at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, 

10 including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and 

11 overhead expenses. 

12 SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS. 

13 Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national med14 als for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States 

15 Code. 

Æ 


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