When World War 1 kicked off, black Americans were not allowed to serve in the army until a draft was implemented. Even then, the 15th infantry regiment was off to a rocky start. They
.. show full overview
When World War 1 kicked off, black Americans were not allowed to serve in the army until a draft was implemented. Even then, the 15th infantry regiment was off to a rocky start. They were trained in a town that hated them, and delayed 3 times from making it across the sea. And when they finally did make it across the ocean, they were pushed onto the French army. But that didn't stop them from being some of the most fierce combatants in WWI. With legends like Henry Johnson, Needham Roberts, and James Reese Europe, the Hellfighters fought the longest of any US regiment without giving up any ground & without a single member captured by the enemy.