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photo courtesy of the National Archives

NEWARK — A group of African-American soldiers being deployed to Europe are shown at a going-away party in Newark in this circa-1917 photo.

Jami Bryan, writing for the Army Historical Foundation, notes that although there were no specific segregation provisions outlined in draft legislation, African-Americans were told to tear off one corner of their registration cards so they could easily be identified and inducted separately.

Although technically eligible for many positions in the Army, very few African-Americans served in combat units, with most limited to labor battalions. Still, some African-Americans did see action; one of the most distinguished combat units during the Great War was the 369th Infantry Regiment. Known as the “Harlem Hellfighters,” the unit was on the front lines for six months, longer than any other American unit in the war. One hundred seventy one members of the 369th were awarded the Legion of Merit.

According to the U.S. Army Center of Military History, more than 350,000 African-Americans had served with the American Expeditionary Force by the armistice in November 1918.

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