367th Infantry Regiment

The 367th Infantry Regiment was an African American infantry regiment of the United States Army organized during World War I as part of the 92nd Division. The regiment was formed at Camp Upton in New York in 1917 and consisted primarily of Black enlisted men and Black junior officers during the era of racial segregation in the United States military.

The regiment became widely known in March 1918 after participating in a major parade in New York City and receiving a stand of colors from the Union League Club of New York. The unit later served overseas in France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.

The 367th Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Upton, Long Island, New York, on 3 November 1917 pursuant to War Department orders.^[1]

The regiment formed part of the 92nd Division, one of the two predominantly African American combat divisions established by the United States Army during World War I.^[2][3]

According to a 1918 regimental publication, most enlisted men were drafted from camps across the United States, including Camp Devens, Camp Custer, Camp Lewis, Camp Lee, Camp Pike, and Camp Travis.^[1]

Many of the regiment's Black officers were graduates of the officer training camp at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, which trained African American officers during World War I.^[1]

The regiment also organized recreational and morale programs while stationed at Camp Upton. In December 1917, The New York Times reported that the 367th Infantry planned to finance construction of a regimental theater through a $40,000 bond drive supported by both soldiers and African American civilians.^[4]

On 23 March 1918, the regiment traveled from Camp Upton to New York City where it participated in a major parade along Fifth Avenue and through Harlem.^[1]

During the event, the Union League Club of New York formally presented the regiment with a stand of colors in a ceremony attended by New York Governor Charles S. Whitman, military officials, civic leaders, and large crowds of spectators.^[1]

Governor Whitman and other New York officials publicly praised African American troops from New York-area training camps during the war.^[5]

The regiment's commanding officer, Colonel James A. Moss, accepted the colors on behalf of the unit and pledged that the regiment would defend them honorably overseas.^[1]

Contemporary newspapers praised the regiment's discipline, military bearing, and parade performance.^[1]

The regiment deployed to France in June 1918 as part of the 92nd Division and the American Expeditionary Forces.^[3]

After arriving in the Bourbonne-les-Bains training area, the regiment underwent approximately eight weeks of combat training before moving into the St. Dié sector in August 1918.^[6]

About 23 August 1918, the regiment moved with the 92nd Division into the St. Dié sector, where it was attached to the French 87th Division.^[6]

During operations near Frappelle, German forces launched attacks supported by artillery, mustard gas, and flamethrowers, but were repulsed.^[6]

Like many African American units during the war, the regiment served under segregated conditions and faced racial discrimination within the Army.^[2]

On 12 September 1918, German forces distributed propaganda leaflets directed at African American soldiers encouraging them to abandon the American Army and cross over to the German lines. According to the regimental history, the effort failed and instead strengthened the soldiers' loyalty and morale.^[6]

The regiment later served in the Meuse-Argonne and Marbache sectors while attached to French formations.^[6][3]

On 10 November 1918, elements of the regiment helped suppress German machine-gun positions while supporting adjacent French units during attacks near Bois Frehaut.^[6]

French commanders later cited the battalion and supporting machine gun units for their actions.^[6] The regiment's 1st Battalion received the French Croix de Guerre for its actions during the fighting near Bois Frehaut in the closing days of the war.^[7]

Official records later credited the 92nd Division with sixty-seven days of combat in three major sectors: St. Dié, Meuse-Argonne, and Marbache.^[6]

Following the Armistice, the regiment returned to the United States in early 1919 and was demobilized at Camp Meade, Maryland, on 7 March 1919.^[6]

In January 1941, the War Department ordered the reactivation of the 367th Infantry Regiment.^[6]

The regiment was reactivated on 25 March 1941 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. A cadre from the 25th Infantry Regiment at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, assisted in training newly drafted soldiers assigned to the regiment.^[6]

Colonel Ralph C. Holliday initially commanded the reactivated regiment before being succeeded in 1942 by Colonel Fred O. Wickham.^[6]

The regiment adopted the motto "See It Through." A 1918 regimental publication described the unit's insignia as featuring an eagle, crossed rifles, and a buffalo head symbolizing the tradition of the "Buffalo Soldiers".^[1]

The 367th Infantry Regiment formed part of the broader history of African American military service during the segregated era of the United States Army.^[2]

• 92nd Infantry Division (United States)
• African Americans in World War I
• Buffalo Soldiers