The American Foreign Legion: Black Soldiers of the 93d in World War I [Hardcover]

Frank E. Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2004

Still segregated in World War I, the U.S. Army was reluctant to use its 93d division of black soldiers in combat and instead assigned the division's three National Guard and one draftee regiments to the French Army. The battlefield successes of these African Americans under the French at the height of the German offensives in 1918 turned white expectations of failure upside down. Their bravery and heroism gained the respect of French and German alike and called into question the U.S. Army's policy of racially segregating its divisions. The full story of their accomplishments is told here for the first time through the eyes of the enlisted men and their white and black officers.

The book highlights the actions of individuals as well as the various units of the 93d in compelling combat scenes. We join Company C of the 370th Infantry under heavy fire as they capture artillery pieces, machine guns, and even a portion of a railroad track to win a unit citation and the Croix de Guerre. We learn about the extraordinary actions of Corporal Freddie Stowers, the only African American in the war to be nominated for-and seventy years later awarded-the Medal of Honor, and others who earned the Distinguished Service Cross and French awards for gallantry in combat. Their story of overcoming the odds at a time when most believed blacks performed poorly in combat is told by Frank Roberts, who has been researching the subject for years. While his book acknowledges the many problems encountered by the 93d, the focus is on the many triumphs of these tenacious soldiers as they fought the enemy and the prejudices of their fellow Americans. This book is published in cooperation with the Association of the United States Army. 288 pages. 15 photographs. 10 maps. Hardcover. 6 x 9 inches.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...strong research, straightforward prose, and an understanding of both the Army and the battlefield." -- Dallas Morning News, August 20, 2004

About the Author

Frank E. Roberts, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, is a partner in a professional recruitment consulting firm in Rockwall, Texas, and the author of several articles in military journals.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 259 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press (June 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591147344
• ISBN-13: 978-1591147343
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,117,563 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not great but very good, September 22, 2006

By 

Charles A. Krohn (Panama City Beach, Florida) - See all my reviews

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

This is a lively account of the 93d Division during World War I--how they organized, trained, deployed and fought. Despite some discriminatory practices at home and abroad, the men of the 93d fought long, well and hard in some very unique situations while attached to the French army. They faced the spirit of their times without bitterness, and established a legacy that deserves to be remembered. They dealt with adversity by ignoring it, proving their mettle as soldiers and men. When it comes to offensive operations, they excelled brilliantly and usually without complaint. The reader will be aware that the soldiers were black; I doubt the soldiers cared one way or the other.