[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2782-H2785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
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HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT
Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3642) to award a Congressional gold medal to the 369th
Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the ``Harlem Hellfighters'', in
recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during World War
I, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3642
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Harlem Hellfighters
Congressional Gold Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) When the United States officially entered World War I
in April 1917, the Armed Forces were still segregated, even
though African-American soldiers had served and distinguished
themselves in every war since the Revolutionary War, and even
the Colonial Wars preceding the American Revolution.
(2) After several years of advocacy and debate, in 1916 the
State of New York authorized the recruitment of the 15th New
York National Guard Regiment, which was called to Federal
service on July 25, 1917, soon after arriving for training at
Camp Whitman, New York.
(3) The 15th completed its basic military practice training
at Camp Whitman, New York.
(4) To receive combat training, the 15th reported, on
October 8, 1917, to Camp Wadsworth, in Spartanburg, South
Carolina, where it experienced many incidents of racial
discrimination.
(5) Consequently, the government agreed to remove the 15th
from Camp Wadsworth, but, instead of receiving further
training, the regiment began preparing for deployment to
France in November.
(6) The 15th arrived in Saint Nazaire, France, on January
1, 1918, where it was redesignated the 369th Infantry
Regiment
(7) Partly because many White soldiers within the American
Expeditionary Forces (hereinafter, the ``AEF'') refused to
perform combat duty with Black soldiers, members of the 369th
were initially assigned manual labor tasks, such as loading
and unloading supplies, and constructing roads and railroads.
(8) After receiving pressure from the 369th regimental
commander about not having a combat mission, the AEF attached
the 369th to the French Fourth Army.
(9) By mid-March of 1918, the 369th went to the Argonne
Forest with the French 16th Division for training and soon
entered the trenches.
(10) The 369th encountered its first German soldiers in
combat in April, 1918.
(11) In May of 1918, Private Henry Johnson of the 369th
received the French Croix de Guerre, with Palm, for
extraordinary valor, becoming one of the first American
soldiers to be awarded this honor.
(12) Johnson also belatedly received a Purple Heart, was
awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and in, 2015, was
awarded the Medal of Honor.
(13) Throughout the remainder of the spring and into the
summer the 369th served at Minacourt, in the Champagne-Marne
Defensive, and during the Aisne-Marne Offensive in support of
the French 161st Infantry Division.
(14) As summer turned to autumn, the 369th went on to
participate in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, where it captured
the important village of Sechault despite sustaining severe
losses.
(15) On October 14, 1918, the 369th advanced to Alsace.
(16) On November 20, 1918, the 369th reached the banks of
the Rhine River as part of the French Army of Occupation, the
first Allied unit to do so.
(17) The 369th was relieved of its assignment with the
French 161st Division in December, 1918, and elements of the
regiment sailed for New York in late January and early
February, 1919.
(18) The 369th Infantry Regiment received a parade up 5th
Avenue in New York City on February 17, 1919, receiving
applause and cheers from hundreds of thousands of onlookers.
(19) The 369th was demobilized on February 28, 1919.
(20) Over 170 individual members of the 369th received the
Croix de Guerre, many were awarded the Distinguished Service
Cross, and the 369th was awarded a unit citation.
(21) It is generally believed that the 369th was dubbed the
``Harlem Hellfighters'' by German soldiers, who found the men
to be incredibly determined and courageous in battle.
(22) The 369th was the first regiment of African Americans
to deploy overseas during World War I and spent 191 days on
the front line in World War I, more than any other American
regimental sized unit.
(23) The 369th never lost a foot of ground nor had a man
taken prisoner, despite suffering a high number of
casualties.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate
shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf
of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to the
369th Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the ``Harlem
Hellfighters'', in recognition of their bravery and
outstanding service during World War I.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award
referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury
shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices,
and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
(c) Smithsonian Institution.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in
honor of the 369th Infantry Regiment, the ``Harlem
Hellfighters'', the gold medal shall be given to the
Smithsonian Institution, where it will be displayed as
appropriate and made available for research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal
awarded pursuant to this Act available for display elsewhere,
particularly at other locations associated with the Harlem
Hellfighters.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary may strike and sell
duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section
3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the bronze
medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery,
and overhead expenses.
(b) Proceeds of Sales.--The amounts received from the sale
of duplicate medals under subsection (a) shall be deposited
in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
(c) Authority to Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to
be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise
Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of
the medals struck under this Act.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
The gold medal struck pursuant to this Act is a national
medal for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States
Code.
SEC. 6. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Waters) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
McHenry) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, the soldiers of the 369th Infantry Regiment were known
to both their enemies and allies alike for their fierceness in battle
and dedication to their country. They were called the Black Rattlers,
the Men of Bronze, and Hollenkampfer, but they were best known as the
Harlem Hellfighters.
The Harlem Hellfighters were one of the first African-American
regiments
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to serve with the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. Over
the course of the war, the Harlem Hellfighters spent more time than any
other American unit in the frontline trenches and suffered 1,500
casualties--the most losses of any American unit.
In addition to facing the dangers of frontline trench warfare, the
men of the Harlem Hellfighters endured racist, derogatory attacks from
their White compatriots, many of whom refused to perform combat duty
with African-American soldiers. This resulted in the Harlem
Hellfighters being transferred to a French Army where, despite racist
warnings from American Expeditionary Forces headquarters of the alleged
inferior nature of African-American troops, the Harlem Hellfighters
were treated as welcome reinforcements and equals.
Despite the racism and derogatory attacks from their fellow
countrymen, the Harlem Hellfighters were steadfast in their devotion to
their country. Some members considered their service to be a way to
prove they deserved respect from their White compatriots. Even German
propaganda targeting the Harlem Hellfighters highlighting the racism of
a segregated U.S. military failed to diminish their resolve.
Yet, despite their considerable sacrifices and being awarded the
Croix de Guerre by the French Army for their efforts, the Harlem
Hellfighters continued to face considerable racism when they returned
home after World War I. Their bravery and accomplishments were
similarly ignored by the broader American public. But their legacy and
memory has been kept alive in their hometown. The annual Harlem
Hellfighters Parade in Harlem, New York, became a marker of African-
American service to their Nation, and their service was frequently
referenced as part of the civil rights campaign.
This bill directs the U.S. Mint to strike a Congressional Gold Medal
honoring the Harlem Hellfighters for their service during World War I.
The gold medal will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution so that
others may learn of the patriotism and courage displayed by the men of
the 369th Infantry Regiment.
So, Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Suozzi for introducing this bill. I
urge Members to vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3642, a bill that awards a
Congressional Gold Medal to the 369th Infantry Regiment commonly known
as the Harlem Hellfighters. This gold medal is in recognition of their
bravery and outstanding service during World War I.
I would like to thank Congressman Suozzi and the numerous original
cosponsors for getting this important bill to the floor today.
I have heard from constituents who had family members and I have
heard from folks from around the country about the importance of our
recognizing this heroic group of--at that point--men. The 369th
Infantry Regiment nicknamed the Harlem Hellfighters were the first
African-American infantry unit to fight in World War I. They were also
one of the most decorated.
This is extraordinary. They became one of the most feared units
fighting for the Allies in World War I, and they were notorious for
never yielding ground to their enemies. This is extraordinary.
Their name, Harlem Hellfighters, which was given to them by the
Germans, is reflective of that reputation. That was a hard-won
reputation that they had, and that name is synonymous with the fear
that produced in our enemies. They fearlessly spent 191 consecutive
days on the front lines, which was more time in combat than any other
American unit during the Great War--during World War I.
Additionally, I would be remiss if I did not point out that at least
249 North Carolina-born African-American men served in this prestigious
unit. These brave sons of Carolina fought valiantly just west of the
Argonne Forest in defense of an outpost against a German raiding party.
During this conflict, four North Carolinian Hellfighters were wounded,
including Sergeant Henry Johnson, a native of Winston-Salem that I have
the honor to represent.
Not only were these men fierce fighters, they were also instrumental
in influencing art and culture, including introducing jazz to Europe,
and for that the Europeans should be grateful. Their leader, James
Reese Europe, directed their regimental band to international acclaim.
Madam Speaker, the Harlem Hellfighters of World War I deserve a
Congressional Gold Medal as the highest recognition of national
appreciation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I am grateful
for the bipartisan nature of this bill and also bringing attention to
the valiant soldiers who protected us during the Great War, especially
this very special decorated unit of intense fighters but fantastic
humans.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
New York (Mr. Suozzi) who is also the sponsor of this legislation.
Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, today we have the opportunity to begin to
right a century-old wrong. I rise to support the creation of a
Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the Harlem Hellfighters.
Thousands of Harlem Hellfighters were African-American soldiers who
signed up to join the U.S. Army in World War I. Sadly, but predictably,
White soldiers were unwilling to serve alongside Black soldiers, and
these brave men were assigned to join the French Army. But that didn't
stop them.
The Harlem Hellfighters, wearing U.S. uniforms but issued weapons and
helmets by the French, went on to face more combat time than any other
regiment during World War I. No Harlem Hellfighter was captured as a
prisoner of war, and they never gave up any ground.
The bravery, dedication, and sacrifices of the Harlem Hellfighters
who served 191 days under near-constant enemy fire impacted the outcome
of World War I, but instead of receiving a hero's welcome, they
returned home to racism and race-fueled violence.
There were three dozen Hellfighters who came from my hometown of Glen
Cove. In 2019 the family of Sergeant Leander Willett came to tell me
about their father and grandfather. He had served in France and had
been stabbed by a German bayonet and been the victim of mustard gas
attacks, but never received a Purple Heart. He returned home and died
in 1956 without ever being properly recognized and honored for his
service to our country. He joined his fellow comrades who have been
lost to history.
In November of 2019 we surprised the Willett family with a posthumous
Purple Heart for Sergeant Willett for wounds received as a result of
hostile actions in France on October 4, 1918.
I then approached my colleague Adriano Espaillat, who represents
Harlem, and the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Joyce
Beatty, about collaborating together to attain a Congressional Gold
Medal. They both immediately and enthusiastically agreed. We went on to
obtain 310 bipartisan cosponsors of this bill and expect strong support
today.
I would like to especially thank Chairwoman Waters for her and the
Financial Services Committee's support. On behalf of the Willett
family, the families of dozens of Harlem Hellfighters from my hometown,
and a grateful Nation, we say thank you to this body for putting aside
partisanship and helping to right a century-old harm. It is never too
late to do the right thing.
Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Espaillat).
Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Suozzi for his
leadership on this bill and for working with me on this fight for
justice. I also want to thank Chairwoman Waters and Ranking Member
McHenry for working with us to get this bill out of the committee.
Today, I rise in support of this bill to honor a group of brave men
who have yet to receive their due commendation: the Harlem
Hellfighters.
This distinguished group of African-American and Puerto Rican men
were patriots of the highest valor. Their bravery, dedication,
perseverance, and
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service helped the United States and our Allied forces in our fight to
secure victory. But, Madam Speaker, these fighters weren't even
permitted to serve alongside their fellow White soldiers. Our
government threw them to the side--assigning them to a unit of the
French Government rather than our own.
They put their lives on the line for the freedoms enshrined in our
Constitution, despite doing so at a time when many like them did not
enjoy the very freedoms they fought to protect.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman from New York an
additional 1 minute.
Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, these men spent 191 days in combat and
were the most active regiment throughout the entire First World War.
Under constant enemy fire and cast away from the nation they swore an
oath to protect, they still persevered, fighting until the end.
There is no doubt that their heroism impacted the outcome of the war
and, undoubtedly, American history as well.
This bill is a necessary first step to righting the decades-old
injustice. It is about time the Harlem Hellfighters' invaluable
contributions be commended and commemorated, and their service be
formally recognized by our government. Let's finally give these men the
Congressional Gold Medal they deserve.
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Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Ohio (Mrs. Beatty).
Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Waters for managing
this time.
To the gentleman from New York, what an honor it is for me to stand
on this House floor as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, as a
Black woman, to urge my colleagues to support the Harlem Hellfighters
Congressional Gold Medal Act.
We have heard so much about them, and I am proud to join them, giving
them the recognition that they deserve. These men of this segregated
unit fought bravely in the First World War and distinguished themselves
in battle across France. The men of the 369th Infantry Regiment, the
Harlem Hellfighters, are an important chapter in the long history of
Black Americans serving our country.
So often we talk about Black history, but it is important to know
that Black history is American history. And, today, we stand here
united as Americans, Democrats, Republicans, asking our colleagues to
make sure that we recognize the Harlem Hellfighters for the great work,
the great bravery, for what they did for this country.
Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, may I inquire if there are additional
speakers? I am prepared to close.
Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers and I am
prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield
myself the balance of my time.
There is an extraordinary story to tell about the American Armed
Forces. There is an extraordinary story to tell about African Americans
in our Armed Forces in the United States.
The Harlem Hellfighters were representative of a really amazing
achievement during the war to end all wars, World War I. But there are
also stories before this. That was not the first group of African
Americans to fight to defend our Nation.
It was not the Civil War where African Americans fought for our
Nation for the first time. It was not. It was actually our liberation
from Great Britain. It was George Washington's army that had African
Americans serving alongside other Americans to liberate us from Great
Britain.
Our founding of this Nation is one of a multiracial, multiethnic,
multilingual, amazing group of folks who wanted the same things, which
is freedom to make decisions for themselves and for their families. And
it was that first integrated army, which was George Washington's army,
the Continental Army, that begat the African Americans who served
alongside other Americans in the Civil War.
And, sadly, that established capacity was lost for two generations
before the Great War, and the Harlem Hellfighters showed the American
people that African Americans can fight just as well as any other
American, and, in fact, do better in unmitigated harsh treatment on the
front lines of the biggest war that anyone thought they would ever see
in their lifetimes; which then said, during World War II, actually, we
are all in this together; which then changed the whole face of the 20th
century.
So what the Harlem Hellfighters represent to us in this debate is not
just the good work of the Congressional delegation from New York, or
Congressman Suozzi in bringing this to the floor today, but giving us
the opportunity to highlight what this generation of men showed to the
American people and to our allies in Europe about who we are as
Americans.
So for us to honor the Harlem Hellfighters today has given us the
opportunity to recognize 100 years of progress. Not even progress, not
fulfillment of every dream that we have as Americans, not perfect, not
perfect, but a whole hell of a lot better than we were 100 years ago
when these Harlem Hellfighters showed the world not just what America
is about, but specifically what African Americans were about and their
capacity. Not just capacity to fight, but to be smart, to be capable,
to deliver results, to be the best, the best.
So the last hundred years, you can go back to that generation of
Harlem Hellfighters and you can see what they brought to the public and
the understanding that they brought over the last hundred years, and it
made us better.
So for us to have this opportunity to recognize them also lets us
recognize ourselves as a country and who we are, and to actually say,
you know, it is pretty amazing. We have an amazing country. And these
men who fought and died--many who died--they loved their country. They
love their country and they are willing to not just support it with
words like I am right now, but with their lives.
So, with a grateful heart, I say thank you to Congressman Suozzi and
his constituents for bringing this debate to the floor.
I want to thank my colleagues for doing this in a very wide,
bipartisan way, and giving us the opportunity to have a broader look at
history and the greatness of the last century and the improvement that
we have as a result of what they broke through over 100 years ago in
the Argonne Forest.
Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
In closing, I certainly want to thank Mr. Suozzi for bringing forward
this legislation. I want to thank Mr. Espaillat and Congresswoman
Beatty for joining with him to bring this legislation forward. I want
to thank Mr. McHenry and the members of the Financial Services
Committee for joining together in support of this legislation.
The Harlem Hellfighters braved long deployments, treacherous
conditions, and the scorn of their fellow patriots. So we find
ourselves, I guess, 100 years later or so, understanding the important
role that they played and the sacrifices that they made.
We also understand how important it is for all of us to not only give
recognition to their sacrifice, but also recognize that this country
has gone through some very difficult times, faced with the question of
race.
Despite the fact that we have seen times in this country when we were
moving forward and we thought we were erasing the kind of racism that
had been present for too long, we find ourselves today fighting some of
the same battles.
There are many in the history of this country who have made
sacrifices in so many different ways that perhaps will never be
recognized. But I am hopeful, with the cooperation, the cosponsorship,
and the work for both sides of the aisle on a recognition such as this,
that this will help us to continue to fight to rid this country of
racism and discrimination and hatred.
I am hopeful that the word will go forward today about this
recognition that we are giving to the Harlem Hellfighters and will
inspire others to want to praise and honor those who are certainly ones
who are so committed to
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justice and equality, and who love this country will be treated better,
will be recognized, and certainly will be given their correct place in
history.
So I urge Members to celebrate the memory of these brave men of the
369th Infantry Regiment, who, through their service, sought to realize
a more equal and a more perfect union, by voting ``yes'' on H.R. 3642.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3642, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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