The American Foreign Legion: Black Soldiers of the 93d in World War I (review)

Frank E. Roberts's American Foreign Legion quickly establishes that the African American soldier was an outsider, a foreigner within the ranks of the U.S. military. He was neither wanted nor appreciated by his white comrades or superiors. In fact, General John J. Pershing, Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces (AEF) "faced what he perceived to be two irritating and diverse problems: what to do with the four infantry regiments of an incomplete division of black troops, and how to placate the French high command's demand that individual American regiments be assigned to their army" (p. 48). He relieved himself of this burden by sending the 93d Division to serve with the French Army.

While stationed in France, the 369th, 370th, 371st, and 372nd Infantry Regiments became an important component of the French 157th Infantry Division. African American soldiers trained with French soldiers and were reissued with French combat arms, equipment, and even a ration of French wine. The French Army's admiration for black soldiers was already well established as a Senegalese regiment from French West Africa had become the most highly decorated unit in the French Army. "The real testimonial came from the Germans who came to fear the French African troops, who preferred to fight at night in hand-to-hand combat with trench knives and bayonets and take no prisoners. The German high command tried to overcome the reluctance of their men to engage the black troops by offering a reward of four hundred francs for each captured black French soldier" (p. 51).

By September 1918, African American soldiers had collectively distinguished themselves as a formidable fighting force and in one instance were chosen to direct the division attack against German lines. Individually, many African American doughboys performed extraordinary acts of bravery, like Private Junius Diggs who rescued numerous injured comrades under a barrage of machine-gun fire (p. 142) or Sergeant William Butler who nearly single handedly killed four German soldiers and captured three prisoners while manning a remote listening post (p. 118). At the conclusion of the war, African American soldiers of the 93d Division were awarded over six hundred decorations for valor and heroism that included the Medal of Honor. They also earned the alias of "black devils" from their German adversaries for their ferocity and fighting skill (p. 2).

Although Roberts writes a colorful and descriptively entertaining account of African American courage and bravery, he curiously omits the voice of the African American soldier. The reader never truly appreciates why black soldiers eagerly joined the U.S. military or what was at stake. What did African American soldiers expect from military service and support? What were the high hopes and ideals of the men and officers that Roberts refers to in the Introduction to the book. Were they ever realized or achieved? (p. 2) Answers to these questions would have strengthened a fascinating story. The book is nonetheless a welcome contribution to the small list of available monographs on the experiences and sacrifices of African American soldiers in the Great War.