Obama to honor two veterans from WW1 with Medals of Honor

[oneshooter]

Last edited Sat May 16, 2015, 04:54 PM - Edit history (1)

Two U.S. soldiers -- one black, the other Jewish -- will receive the award posthumously nearly a century after their heroic actions
They were cited for their actions in France
The African-American soldier served in a French unit, as he couldn't serve in a white combat unit

(CNN)Nearly a century after their heroic efforts, two World War I veterans who may have been overlooked for the Medal of Honor because of their respective race and religion will receive the honor posthumously, the White House announced Thursday.

Pvt. William Henry Johnson, of the 369th Infantry Regiment's "Harlem Hellfighters," and Sgt. William Shemin, of the 4th Infantry Division, will receive the award from President Obama at a White House ceremony on June 2.

More at: http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/15/politics/medal-of-honor/index.html

[Wilms]

1. 369th Infantry Regiment's "Harlem Hellfighters"

The 369th Infantry Regiment, formerly known as the 15th New York National Guard Regiment, was an infantry regiment of the United States Army that saw action in World War I and World War II. The Regiment consisted of African-Americans and African Puerto Ricans and was known for being the first African-American regiment to serve with the American Expeditionary Force during World War I. Before the 15th New York National Guard Regiment was formed, any African American that wanted to fight in the war either had to enlist in the French or Canadian armies.[2] The regiment was nicknamed the Harlem Hellfighters, the Black Rattlers and the Men of Bronze, which was given to the regiment by the French.[3] The nickname “Hell Fighters” was given to them by the Germans due to their toughness and that they never lost a man through capture, lost a trench or a foot of ground to the enemy.[4] The "Harlem Hellfighters" were the first all black regiment that helped change the American public's opinion on African American soldiers and helped pave the way for future African American soldiers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/369th_Infantry_Regiment_%28United_States%29

[oneshooter]

2. BUMP