Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act

Floor Speech

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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.

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Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, may I inquire if there are additional speakers? I am prepared to close.

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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.

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