By DENISE FORMOLO

Dickinson County

Veteran Service Officer

Hollenkampfer is the German word for Hellfighters. The 15th New York National Guard Regiment became the 369th Infantry Regiment when they were federalized during World War I. They are known as the first African-American regiment to serve with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.

When they first arrived in France, they were named the Black Rattlers by the commander of the regiment because of the rattlesnake insignia on their uniforms. However, the nickname “Men of Bronze” was given to them by the French after they witnessed the gallantry of these soldiers fighting in the trenches.

It was the Germans who called them “Hollenkampfer” or “Hellfighters.” The Hellfighters proved to be a cunning, ruthless and fierce foe of the Germans. One officer who was captured stated, “They are devils, they smile while they kill and they won’t be taken alive.” As noted in one encounter with the Germans, Pvt. Henry Johnson and Pvt. Needham Roberts, both already wounded and out of ammunition, managed to foil and frustrate a German patrol. With Pvt. Roberts too injured to continue fighting, Pvt. Johnson fought off a German patrol with the butt of his gun and a knife. Pvt. Johnson earned the nickname “Black Death.” It is reported that he killed at least four German soldiers and wounded another 30. Johnson himself suffered from at least 21 injuries. He was the first American to receive the Croix de Guerre from France. In 2015, he posthumously received the U.S. Medal of Honor.

These men saw more continuous combat and suffered more casualties than any other U.S. military unit during World War I. It is noted that they served 191 days under fire, having no man taken as a prisoner and never lost a foot of ground that they had captured. The 369th fought in such distinguished battles as the Belleau Wood and the Chateau-Thierry. They were one of the most decorated regiments in World War I, with 170 individual members of the 369th, and a unit citation to the entire regiment, awarded the Croix de Guerre medal from France and the Distinguished Cross and Medal of Honor from the United States. In 2015, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to the regiment in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during World War I.

Now, more than 100 years after the New York National Guard’s 369th Infantry Regiment earned the nickname Hellfighters, the Army Center of Military History has approved the official designation (September 2020) of Hellfighters and made it clear that Hellfighters is one word, not two. To learn more about these courageous men, read the 2014 novel “The Harlem Hellfighters,” written by Max Brooks.

For those who play video games, several have reference to the 369th. The unit is featured in the video game “Battlefield 1” single-player campaign prologue “Storm of Steel,” with a collector’s edition of the game statue of a soldier from the unit and most of the earned “PTFO” weapon skins have references to the Hellfighters. The 369th is also featured in the video game “Beyond the Wire.”

If you are a veteran, spouse or widow of a veteran having financial problems, be sure to contact the Office of Veterans Affairs. We have several grant funds that may be used to help with emergency situations.

Upcoming Events

Sunday– All-you-can-eat breakfast, 8 to 11:30 a.m., American Legion Post 145, Main Street, Norway.

Jan. 26 — Veteran Alliance meeting, 6:30 p.m., American Legion Post 50, Iron Mountain.

Feb. 1 — Dickinson County Veterans Service Office board meeting, 8 a.m., American Legion Post 50, Iron Mountain. Public is invited.