G WITH FLOWERS), NEGRO
HERO OF 369TH INFANTRY. IN NEW YORK PARADE. HE WAS THE FIRST SOLDIER OF
ANY RACE IN THE AMERICAN ARMY TO RECEIVE THE CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM.
NEEDHAM ROBERTS, HIS FIGHTING COMPANION, IN INSET.]

[Illustration: RETURNING FROM THE WAR. MUSICIANS OF 365TH INFANTRY
LEADING PARADE OF THE REGIMENT IN MICHIGAN BOULEVARD. CHICAGO.]

[Illustration: SOLDIERS OF 365TH INFANTRY MARCHING DOWN MICHIGAN
BOULEVARD. CHICAGO. THIS REGIMENT WAS PART OF THE CELEBRATED 92ND
DIVISION OF SELECTIVE DRAFT MEN.]

[Illustration: THE SEVEN AGES OF MEN. CURBSTONE GROUPS IN NEW YORK
LINED UP TO GIVE THE HEROES WELCOME. THE SCENES WERE TYPICAL OF MANY IN
CITIES AND TOWNS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.]

[Illustration: COLONEL FRANKLIN A. DENISON, FORMER COMMANDER OF 8TH
ILLINOIS (370TH INFANTRY), INVALIDED HOME FROM FRANCE JULY 12, 1918.]

[Illustration: FIRST COMMANDER OF THE 8TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY, COLONEL
JOHN R. MARSHALL, WHO INCREASED THE ORGANIZATION FROM A BATTALION TO A
REGIMENT, EVERY OFFICER AND MAN A NEGRO. UNDER COL. MARSHALL THE
REGIMENT SAW DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.]

[Illustration: FORMER OFFICERS OF 370TH INFANTRY (OLD 8TH). LEFT,
COLONEL FRANKLIN A. DENISON, COMMANDER UNTIL JULY, 1918; CENTER, COLONEL
T.A. ROBERTS (WHITE). SUCCEEDING COMMANDER; RIGHT, LIEUT. COLONEL OTIS
B. DUNCAN. APPOINTED COLONEL TO SUCCEED COLONEL T.A. ROBERTS.]

[Illustration: CROWD ON THE LAKE FRONT IN CHICAGO ALMOST SMOTHERS
RETURNING SOLDIERS OF "FIGHTING 8TH" (370TH INFANTRY).]

It is known that a contingent of them accompanied the very first forces
that went abroad from this country. In fact, it may be said, that the
feet of American Negroes were among the first in our forces to touch the
soil of France. It is known that they numbered at least 136 different
companies, battalions and regiments in France. If there were more, the
records at Washington had not sufficiently catalogued them up to the
early part of 1919 to say who they were.

In the desire to get soldiers abroad in 1918, the policy of the
administration and the Department seems to have been to make details and
bookkeeping a secondary consideration. The names of all, their
organizations and officers were faithfully kept, but distinctions
between whites and blacks were very obscure. Until the complete
historical records of the Government are compiled, it will be impossible
to separate them with accuracy.

Negro non-combatant forces in France at the