h (15th New York) was of the first
of the American forces to reach France, following mutual admiration
between these two widely different representatives of the human family,
that during the period in the expeditionary force of Regulars which
reached France June 13, 1917; being among the first 100,000 that went
abroad. However, the 93rd division, exclusively Negro, had not been
fully formed then and the regiment did not see much real fighting until
the spring and summer of 1918.

[Illustration: NEGRO NURSES CARRYING BANNER OF FAMOUS NEGRO REGIMENT.
MARCHING DOWN FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK. IN GREAT PARADE WHICH OPENED RED
CROSS DRIVE.]

The 92nd division was another exclusively Negro division. There were
many more Negro troops in training in France and large numbers at
training camps in this country, but the 92nd and 93rd, being the earlier
formed and trained divisions, saw practically all the fighting. Units
belonging to one or both divisions fought with special distinction in
the Forest of Argonne, near Chateau Thierry, Belleau Wood, St. Mihiel
district, Champagne sector, at Metz and in the Vosges mountains.

In the 92nd division was the 325th Field Signal battalion, the only
Negro signal unit in the American army. The division also contained the
349th, 350th and 351st Artillery regiments, each containing a machine
gun battalion; the 317th Trench Mortar battery; the balance being made
up of Negro engineers, hospital units, etc., and the 365th, 366th, 367th
and 368th Infantry regiments.

Enlisted, drafted and assigned to active service, upwards of 400,000
Negroes participated in the war. The number serving abroad amounted to
about 200,000. They were inducted into the cavalry, infantry, field and
coast artillery, radio (wireless telegraphy, etc.), medical corps,
ambulance and hospital corps, sanitary and ammunition trains, stevedore
regiments, labor battalions, depot brigades and engineers. They also
served as regimental clerks, surveyors and draftsmen.

Sixty served as chaplains and over 350 as Y.M.C.A. secretaries, there
being a special and highly efficient Negro branch of the Y.M.C.A.
Numerous others were attached to the War Camp Community Service in
cities adjacent to the army camps.

Negro nurses were authorized by the war department for service in base
hospitals at six army camps--Funston, Sherman, Grant, Dix, Taylor and
Dodge. Race women also served as canteen workers in France and in charge
of hostess houses