 
Assembly Resolution No. 437
 
BY: M. of A. Dickens
 
        COMMEMORATING  the 103rd Anniversary of the Harlem
        Hellfighters, and paying tribute to  these  soldiers
        of  the  369th  Infantry Regiment for their courage,
        bravery, service and dedication to the United States
        Army
 
  WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services from the State of  New  York,
who  have  served  so  faithfully  and courageously in wars in which our
Nation's freedom was at stake, as well as in the preservation  of  peace
during  peacetime,  deserve a special salute from this Legislative Body;
and
 
  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud  to  commemorate  the
103rd  Anniversary  of  the  Harlem  Hellfighters, and to pay tribute to
these soldiers  of  the  369th  Infantry  Regiment  for  their  courage,
bravery, service and dedication to the United States Army; and
 
  WHEREAS, The 369th Infantry Regiment, formerly known as the 15th New
York  National  Guard  Regiment,  was an infantry regiment of the United
States Army National Guard during World War I and World War II; and
 
  WHEREAS, The Regiment consisted mainly of African Americans,  though
it also included a number of Puerto Rican Americans during World War II;
it was known for being the first African American regiment to serve with
the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Before  the  15th  New  York  National  Guard Regiment was
formed, any African American who wanted to  fight  in  the  war  had  to
enlist  in the French or Canadian armies; the regiment was nicknamed the
Harlem Hellfighters, the Black Rattlers, and the Men  of  Bronze,  which
was given to the regiment by the French; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  nickname Harlem Hellfighters 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; and
 
  WHEREAS, The Harlem Hellfighters were the first all-African American
regiment  which  helped  change the American public's opinion on African
American  soldiers  and  paved  the  way  for  future  African  American
soldiers; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Our  Nation's veterans deserve to be recognized, commended
and thanked by the people of the State of New York for their service and
for their dedication to their communities, their State and their Nation;
now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate the 103rd Anniversary of the Harlem Hellfighters, and to pay
tribute  to  these  soldiers  of  the  369th Infantry Regiment for their
courage, bravery, service and dedication to the United States Army;  and
be it further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Harlem Hellfighters Advisory Committee.
Commemorating the 103rd Anniversary of the Harlem Hellfighters

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