Here is the 369th Infantry Regiment, formerly known as the 15th New York National Guard Regiment, & more commonly referred to as the Harlem Hellfighters. They consisted primarily of black troops that fought in World War I.

Their motto was "Don't Tread On Me, God Damn, Let's Go."

Prior to 1948, the U.S. military actually was still desegregated. Many African Americans who served in WWI thought that the racial discrimination would dissipate once they returned home, but this didn't happen, as racism after WWI was perhaps at its worst until the start of WWII.

Although many African Americans were eager to fight in the war, they were often turned away from serving. When the U.S. realized it didn't have enough soldiers, they passed the Selective Service act of 1917, requiring all men of age to register for the draft—including black men.

The Harlem Hellfighters got their start in the National Guard's 15th New York Regiment, formed after Charles S. Whitman was elected Governor of New York. They were formed in light of the exemplary efforts of another black unit: the 10th Cavalry Regiment—the "Buffalo Soldiers."

By serving, many African Americans believed that they could earn the respect they deserved of their white counterparts. Through efforts pushed by President Woodrow Wilson, special training camps for black officers and new black regiments were established to prepare them for war.

The 369th spent a total of 191 days in the frontline, more than any other American unit sent to Europe during the war. They also suffered the most casualties out of any American regiment, with around 1500 casualties. The French called them the Hommes de Bronze—Men of Bronze.

The Army decided to assign the 369th to the French Army because many white American soldiers refused to fight alongside their black counterparts. They were issued French weapons, helmets, and equipment, but continued to wear their U.S. uniforms in battle.

The 369th were treated as if they were no different than any other French unit. The French didn't segregate them but accepted them with open arms. They, too, faced manpower shortages, but also included many colonial units from Morocco and Senegal which fought alongside the 369th.