During World War I, the United States armed forces remained segregated. Many African Americans registered for the draft as well as served in WWI. Over a quarter of a million African Americans served in WWI. Many of them were relegated to support roles and did not see combat. However, there were some distinguished units among the African American soldiers, for example the 369th Infantry Regiment known as “Harlem Hell fighters,” stayed on the front lines during the war for six months. One-hundred and seventy-one members of the 369th were awarded the Legion of Merit.
There were other outstanding African American units that served in WWI”
92nd Infantry Division
• 366th Infantry Regiment
93rd Infantry Division
• 369th Infantry Regiment (“Harlem Hell fighters;” formerly the 15th New York National Guard)
• 370th Infantry Regiment (formerly the 8th Illinois)
• 371st Infantry Regiment
• 372nd Infantry Regiment
A complete list of African American units that served in World War I is in Robert J. Dalessandro’s book “Willing Patriots: Men of Color in the First World War.”
Below are the African American Alexandrians with the “D” surnames.
Dabney, Major – born in 1880
Dabney, William B – born February 12, 1888
Dade, Henry – born April 19, 1881
Dade, Hopson Odell – born August 22, 1898
Davis, Albert – born November 15, 1898
Davis, Booth Royal – born November 11, 1883
Davis, Dewey Otis – born September 19, 1899
Davis, George – born July 19, 1899
Davis, George – born June 4, 1875
Davis, Hal Pauli – born August 13, 1900
Davis, Henry – born June 14, 1888
Davis, Marshall – born March 2, 1877
Davis, Milton Dulaney – born August 31, 1881
Davis, Oscar Blackwell – born March 2, 1876
Davis, Perry Walker – born September 18, 1889
Davis, Thomas – born July 4, 1880
Davis, William – born July 22, 1880
Dawson, Arthur – born October 16, 1897
Dawson, Joe – birth not given
Day, Ferdinand T – born October 27, 1894
Day, Robert W – born September 27, 1888
Dean, Charles – born June 15, 1894
Dean, Clarence – born October 6, 1899
Dean, Washington – born May 5, 1878
Derr, Ralph Mayfield – born September 20, 1897
Diggs, James Henry – born May 8, 1888
Diggs, Julian – born September 30, 1894
Diggs, Richard – born September 10, 1881
Diggs, William Henry – born April 25, 1899
Dinkina, James – born January 18, 1892
Dixon, Edward – born January 18, 1880
Dixon, Ernest – born October 19, 1880
Dixon, Herbert O – born February 2, 1896
Dixon, James Henry – born January 20, 1883
Dixon, John – born April 1, 1880
Dixon, Lucian Odell – born June 27, 1896
Dixon, Moses – born April 16, 1873
Dixon, William – born August 10, 1894
Dobbins, Charles Henry – born December 16, 1877
Dodson, Malachi – born November 2, 1898
Dogan, William Sanford – born October 17, 1875
Dorsey, Vincent – born November 7, 1890
Doss, James Lacey – born December 1, 1893
Douglas, Harrison – born December 8, 1888
Douglas, John Clarence – born November 17, 1899
Drayton, Charles H – born October 25, 1891
Duckett, Joseph DeSilva – born August 29, 1900
Dudley, Benjamin – birth not given
Dudley, Irvine – born November 22, 1889
Dudley, Isham – born May 2, 1896
Dudley, James Samuel – born October 10, 1899
Dudley, Joseph J – born May 7, 1894
Dulaney, Robert – born April 26, 1891
Duncan, Thomas – born June 4, 1897
Duncan, William H – born July 25, 1886
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