The Detroit tribune., 1942-07-04
By FRAZER HUNT

tTlc tOHP""ss
BY FRAZER HUNT
Men carry strange memories out
a, vars The last word OF a dying
ual. the picture OF field at Sois-
.ons covered with dead little tanks:
m,l warm moon. rising over a l
field Of poppics in a quiet No Mans
Land voices singing out OF the
picht-a hundred such inconse-
ouenlial souvenirs of life and events
far away and long ago.
never think. for instance. OF
the New York 369th Negro Regi-
ment in France, without thinking
OF dinner in a French artillery
mess that was supporting this gal
liant American outfit. at Montplaisir
The French artillerists were ell
isrtaining a half dozen officers OF
tie regiment, and /. stray war
correspondent, was kindly asked To
come along There was good
dinner. and the old French Army
cook was called in and congratulate
ed by his Colonel, and by all OF
us-and then there were toasts OF
mutual and undying friendships.
And finally the French liaison Of
hcer attached to this 369th us.
Regiment rose. He started to talk
very quietly, and then suddenly
tears streamed down his face. "You
Americans have saved France TO-.
u.s. he cried out. I'VE were lost
unii you came. Thank God for
America. thank God for such |
brave regiments as this."
can never forget that moment |
-ror the next evening when a
handful Of these boys from Harlem
sefenaded the officers. That night
Was the guest OF Major Arthur W.
Litle-la,er Colonel Little. The
.cgular regimental commander, |
Colonel William Hayward - who |
had organized the regiment in June |
1916, as the 18th New York volun-
ieegs-was In hospital OH sick |
leaYe, and slept in his cot in a
clgout with 1t Colonel Pickering. |
That was in the late Spring OF |
lsiS and this New York Negro
oaiht had been leaned to famous
oae-armed General Gourands To be- |
incorporated in his great Fourth |
french Army. 1t was this same |
General Gourands who later asked
General pershing II he had any
more such regiments as the 369th
10 loan him-and at the end OF the
war cited the regiment for it's ac-
Ton at Sechault and pinned the
'solx de Guerre en- its colors-in
these maslerful terms:
Under command OF Colonel
hayward who. though injured, in
sisted on Leading his regiment in
me battle, OF Lieutenant Colonel
fcAerins. admirable cool ami
grave Of Major Cobb (killed), Of
MAJOR Spencer (grieviously wound
eul oil Major Little. a true leader OF |
men, me 369th RUS engaging In
an onensiNe for the first time in
'ne drive OF September, 1918,
slormed powerful enemy positions
.Aefgetically defended, took, after
Hea'y hghling, the town OF Sc
snaul, captured prisoners and
p'ought hack six cannons and a
sreat number OF machine guns
elghed General Gourands, APPROX
"a by General John ]. Pershing.
! never again saw this extraor-
u'hary colored outfit after those
uays IN France. "a years ago-un-
VI tne other day In a camp near
boston. And when l heard that a
new Sb9lh was billited in this great
q Immediately said
mat wanted to visit Il. And so
!. was mat late that afternoon, l
a. SHOWN into the Office OF Col
Dhei Vhauncey NJ. Hooper, one OF
ne lew colored Colonies in the
n,'ed States Army. Every man
'nu officer In the present 369th--
low an anti-aircraft regiment--was
negro - and 1t was a snappy,
proud able regiment.
COLONEL Hooper had been bat
y, CIV sergeant major in those far
~ uays In France, and he recall
~ the visit that | and one or two
'.Her correspondents had made 20
ne regiment while II was in the
aVnt line. And now he was
ull Colonel.
now many old soldiers who
.erFea IN France are still with the
eslment,' asked.
mere are about a dozen OF u.s."
y -. answered modestly. Would
ou IKE to talk TO one or two o.
uem he then kindly suggested.
s"u "nen | told him that nothing
'ouid please me more, he sent an
hu.Iiy 10 see what might be done
''pu' v, THIS unusual request.
o,a,e I've minutes later an odd little
o'1ier entered the Colonel's Office
n nu saluted. The rather shaggy
,,,, 'opon OF a Croix de Cuerre medal
~. ,.n palms and World War VIC
Wy Medal was pinned In his left