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As per Buffalo Soldier: '''Buffalo Soldiers''' originally were members of the 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. This nickname was given to the Colored Cavalry by Native American tribes who fought in the Indian Wars. The term eventually became synonymous with all of the African-American regiments formed in 1866: t]]
 
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The '''93rd Infantry Division''' was a "colored" [[Racial segregation in the United States Armed Forces|segregated]] unit of the [[United States Army]] in [[World War I]] and [[World War II]]. However, in World War I only its four infantry regiments, two brigade headquarters, and a provisional division headquarters were organized, and the divisional and brigade headquarters were demobilized in May 1918.<ref name=Rinaldi54>Rinaldi, p. 54</ref><ref>Rinaldi,
p. 72</ref> Its regiments fought primarily under French command in that war. Duringand toughsaw combataction induring the [[France]],Second theyBattle soonof acquiredthe fromMarne]]. theThey Frenchacquired the nickname ''Blue Helmets'' ({{lang-fr|Casques Bleus}}) from the French, as these units were issued blue French [[Adrianhorizon helmetblue]]s. This referred to the service of several of its units with the [[French Army]] during the [[SecondAdrian Battle of the Marnehelmet]]s. Consequently, its shoulder patch became a blue French helmet, to commemorate its service with the French Army during the [[German spring offensive]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vetshome.com/military_infantry_division_patch10.htm|title=military infantry division patch10}}</ref>
 
The division saw service in the [[Pacific War|Pacific Theater]] during World War II, but saw little fighting. The division was reactivated with the "colored" infantry designation on 15 May 1942 at [[Fort Huachuca]], [[Arizona]], and shipped overseasto [[Guadalcanal]] in 1944. Most of the division did see service in the Pacific Theater during World War II, but the division'sits regiments were mainly utilizedused as construction units and in defensive operations in the South Pacific. In 1945, the 93rd Infantry Division was inactivated, thoughit had suffered 12 killed in action throughout the war. The lineage of several of its units are carried on by units in the Illinois and [[Maryland Army National Guard]]s.
 
==World War I==
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'''185th Brigade (Infantry)'''
* [[Harlem Hellfighters|369th Infantry Regiment]] ("The Harlem Hellfighters"; formerly the 15th Infantry Regiment, [[New York National Guard]]). Now the 719th Transportation Company, [[369th Sustainment Brigade (United States)|369th Sustainment Brigade]].
* [[370th Infantry Regiment (United States)|370th Infantry Regiment]] ("The Black Devils"; formerly the [[8th Infantry Regiment (Unitedof States)|8th Infantry Regiment]],the [[Illinois National Guard]]).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Scott |first=Emmett J. |url=https://net.lib.byu.edu/estu/wwi/comment/scott/ScottTC.htm |title=The American Negro in the World War |publisher=Homewood Press |year=1919 |location=Chicago |pages=Chapter XV |lccn=19011646}}</ref> Awarded the [[Fourragère]]. Now lineage is carried on by the [[178th Infantry Regiment (United States)|1st Battalion, 178th Infantry]], [[Illinois National Guard]].
 
'''186th Brigade (Infantry)'''
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The regiments fought in several battles alongside French troops, who were already used to colonial [[North Africa|North]] and [[Sub-Saharan Africa|Sub-Saharan]] African "colored" soldiers (''noirs''). All regiments acquitted themselves well and received unit citations from the French. Numerous individual soldiers exhibited extraordinary heroism and were highly decorated by the French. One of these was Cpl. [[Freddie Stowers]], who decades after his death would be awarded the American [[Medal of Honor]]. The division's shoulder patch, with its blue French [[Adrian helmet]], commemorated this period.
 
Total casualties from all regiments were 3,167, with 523 killed in action and 2,644 wounded. The 93rd Division had two Medal of Honor recipients—Lt. George S. Robb and Cpl. Stower—75Freddie Stowers—75 [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]es and 527 ''[[Croix de Guerre]]'' medals.
 
====The Red Hand Division====
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General Goybet took special notice of the fact this was the first [[Independence Day (United States)|4 July]] to be celebrated by his now Franco-American Division.
 
{{QuoteBlockquote|text=It is striking demonstration of the long standing and blood-cemented friendship which binds together our two great nations. The sons of the soldiers of [[Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette|Lafayette]] greet the sons of the soldiers of [[George Washington]] who have come over to fight as in 1776, in a new and greater way of independence. The same success which followed the glorious fights for the cause of liberty is sure to crown our common effort now and bring about the final victory of right and justice over barbarity and oppression.|||author=General Goybet, 157th Infantry Division}}
 
The rebuilt 157th Division participated in the [[Second Battle of the Marne]]. With violent attacks, General Goybet broke the enemy front at [[Monthois]], capturing many prisoners and a considerable amount of materiel in the process. Afterward, he occupied the Vosges, re-capturing [[Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines]].
 
General Order No. 234 (8 October 1918):
{{QuoteBlockquote|text=I am proud to forward you herewith the thanks and congratulations of [[Noël Garnier-Duplessix|General Garnier-Duplessix]] and I want at the same time, dear friends of all ranks Americans and French, to tell you as your leader and as soldier, from the bottom of my heart how grateful, I am to you all for the glory you have acquired for our splendid 157th Division. In these nine hard days of battle you have pushed ahead for eight kilometers, fought powerful enemy organization, captured close to 600 prisoners, taken 15 guns light and heavy, 20 infantry Mortars and artillery ammunition and brought down by rifle 3 aeroplanes. The red hand of this division is now in truth a blood-reeking hand. I grappled the Boche at the throat and made him yell for mercy. Our glorious comrades who died are well avenged.|||author=General Goybet, commander of the 157th Division}}
 
=== Racism in the army ===
Despite African American troops being conscripted to fight in [[World War I|WWI]] this did not mean that they were on equal terms to their white American comrades. Early twentieth century American segregation followed these soldiers overseas and they were discriminated against in the same ways that their fellow African Americans were in the United States. For example, the army implemented segregated barbershops and bathrooms, whilst also giving African Americans their own living stations to limit the interactions they had with French locals.
 
[https://www.westernfrontassociation.com/world-war-i-book-reviews/too-black-too-white-by-ely-green/ Sergeant Ely Green] is a prime example of one of these African American soldiers who experienced discrimination not only from his racist white superiors, but also from the army as a racist institution on the whole. Firstly Green was refused a transfer to the infantry and instead had to work as an officer directing labourers in the camps surrounding [[Saint-Nazaire|St. Nazaire]]. He and his fellow African American comrades worked as [[stevedore]]s, pulling excessively long hours at the docks. Even Green, who went to France patriotic and ready to serve, felt that he and his men were being underappreciated for their work. One event in particular affected Green so profoundly and left him ‘‘cursing the day’’<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bullock |first=Henry Allen |last2=Green |first2=Ely |last3=Chitty |first3=Elizabeth N. |last4=Chitty |first4=Arthur Ben |date=November 1970 |title=Ely: Too Black, Too White. |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2206341 |journal=The Journal of Southern History |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=623 |doi=10.2307/2206341 |issn=0022-4642}}</ref> he had decided to go to fight in France. This event saw the savage attack of one of his men by a marine guard for daring to take a bit of food from a broken crate. Green’s men retaliated by attacking the guard, only to surrender once they were almost shot. Subsequently Green was arrested, and despite not actually being involved in the incident he was brutally beaten while in custody. This complete injustice as well as the lack of effective response by the legal system left Green and his men thoroughly disheartened and fearing for their lives. This is one of countless examples of clear racism and discrimination against African American troops, who no doubt constantly felt the threat of Jim Crow laws and the racist institution of the army pressing down on their necks.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lentz-Smith |first=Adriane Danette |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.4159/9780674054189 |title=Freedom Struggles |date=2009-12-31 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-03592-8}}</ref>
 
==World War II==
[[File:93rd division bougainville 1944.jpg|200px|thumb|right|1 May 1944, members of the 93rd Division on the Numa-Numa Trail, [[Bougainville Island|Bougainville]].]]
 
*Activated: 15 May 1942. 368th, 369th & 25th Inf Regts
*Trained at [[Camp Coxcomb]] and [[Camp EssexClipper]] in California 1943.
*Overseas: 24 January 1944.
*Campaigns: [[New Guinea campaign|New Guinea]], [[Bougainville campaign (1943-45)|Northern Solomons]] (Bougainville), [[Admiralty Islands campaign|Bismarck Archipelago]] (Admiralty Islands)
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====Morotai====
[[File:Japanese surrender party Morotai.jpg|thumb|The Japanese commanding officers at Halmahera land at Morotai to surrender to the 93rd Infantry Division]]
For the remainder of the war, the division would find itself [[Battle of Morotai|fighting on Morotai]]. In April 1945, the division conducted intensive patrols with the aim of destroying the remaining Japanese forces on the island. At this time most of the Japanese on Morotai were located along the island's west coast, and generally stayed close to native gardens. The 93rd Division landed patrols along Morotai's west and north coasts from late April onwards, and these fought scattered skirmishes with small Japanese forces. One of the division's main goals was to capture Colonel Kisou Ouchi, commander of the 211th Regiment, [[IJA 32nd Division|32nd Division]],<ref name="Lee">Lee (1966), pp. 525–527</ref> and this was achieved by a patrol from the [[25th Infantry Regiment (United States)|25th Infantry Regiment]] on 2 August 1945. Ouchi was the highest ranking Japanese officer to be captured before the end of the war.<ref name="Lee"/>
 
====End of the war====
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*[[369th Infantry Regiment]]
* Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 93rd Infantry Division Artillery
** 593rd Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
** 594th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
** 595th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
** 596th Field Artillery Battalion (155 mm)
* 318th Engineer Combat Battalion
* 318th Medical Battalion
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==References==
* {{Cite book|last=Bielakowski|first=Alexander M.|title=African American Troops in World War II|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=Botley|year=2007|isbn=978-1-84603-072-27|url=https://archive.org/details/africanamericant00biel}}
* {{Cite book|last=Bulkley|first=Robert J.|title=At Close Quarters. PT Boats in the United States Navy|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis|year=2003|isbn=1-59114-095-1}}
* {{Cite book|last=Lee|first=Ulysses|title=The Employment of Negro Troops|publisher=Center of Military History|location=Washington, D.C.|year=1966|series=United States Army in World War II|url=http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/11-4/index.htm|access-date=30 April 2009|archive-date=27 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727234938/https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/11-4/index.htm|url-status=dead}}
* {{Cite book|last=Converse|first=Elliott V|title=The Exclusion of Black Soldiers From the Medal of Honor in World War II|publisher=McFarland II|year=1997|isbn=0-7864-0277-6|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780786402779}}
*''The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States'' U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 reproduced at http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/cbtchron/cbtchron.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321054726/https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/cbtchron/cbtchron.html |date=21 March 2021 }}.
* {{cite book | last = Rinaldi | first = Richard A. | title = The U. S. Army in World War I: Orders of Battle | publisher = General Data LLC | year = 2004 | isbn = 0-9720296-4-8 }}
 
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==External links==
{{commonscat}}
*[http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/detached.htm WWI: Detached Service By Segregated Units]
*[http://www.371regiment.homestead.com 371st Regiment Monument]
*[http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title_pages/9459.html Fighting for Hope: African American Troops of the 93rd Infantry Division in World War II and Postwar America]{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/article-summary/african-american_93rd_division_war_record_world_war_one#.Xr1x8shKizk The 93rd Division in ''The Stars and Stripes'']
{{Buffalo Soldiers}}
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[[Category:African Americans in World War I]]
[[Category:African Americans in World War II]]
[[Category:African-American United States Army personnel]]
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