More than 100 years after their valor in World War I, the legendary Harlem Hellfighters — an all-Black infantry regiment from New York — have been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
The ceremony, held Wednesday in Washington, marked long-delayed recognition for the 369th Infantry Regiment, originally the 15th New York National Guard. The unit fought on Europe’s frontlines for nearly 191 consecutive days — longer than almost any other American unit — and sustained more than 1,400 casualties, the highest of any U.S. regiment in the war. Despite their sacrifice, the Hellfighters endured systemic racism at home and segregation within the U.S. military, forcing them to serve under French command.
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During the war, the regiment earned admiration abroad. French allies dubbed them “Hommes de Bronze” (“Men of Bronze”), while German forces gave them their enduring nickname, “Hellfighters,” for their relentless combat spirit. The French government awarded the regiment the Croix de Guerre for gallantry.
“This story has been overlooked and overshadowed for far too long, but today we right that wrong,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) during the ceremony.
The bipartisan recognition drew praise across party lines. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), who helped lead the Gold Medal effort, called the honor “a proud day for America,” noting that the regiment’s valor “will always be remembered.” Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) added: “We will never forget their bravery and sacrifice on behalf of our nation.”
The Harlem Hellfighters are only the third Black military unit to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, following the Tuskegee Airmen (2007) and Montford Point Marines (2011), both celebrated for their service during World War II.
Yet the overdue honor comes amid a contentious political climate over how the U.S. remembers its history. In 2023, President Joe Biden renamed Louisiana’s Fort Polk after Sgt. Henry Johnson, a Harlem Hellfighter awarded France’s highest military honor for his heroism in combat. Johnson once fought off a German raiding party while sustaining 21 wounds to save a fellow soldier. But earlier this year, the Trump administration announced it would revert the base to its Confederate-era name, Fort Polk, sparking criticism that efforts to honor Black servicemen are being erased.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, despite his department overseeing reversals of similar tributes, spoke at the medal ceremony: “We ought always thank Almighty God for such men; and may we honor them forever, especially because they were not honored in their time.”
For descendants and historians, the medal symbolizes not just overdue recognition, but a corrective in the broader struggle to acknowledge the contributions of Black Americans who helped shape U.S. history, often in the face of prejudice.
“The Harlem Hellfighters built a legacy of courage, discipline, and sacrifice,” said one military historian present. “This medal does not erase the century of neglect, but it ensures they will never again be forgotten.”
