The 369th INF Regiment (15th New York National Guard Infantry Regiment) was formed in 1913 and was known after their WWI service as the Harlem Hellfighters, the Black Rattlers and the Men of Bronze due to the demographic make up of their rank and file.
Fighting with French weapons, helmets and web gear, they wore U.S. uniforms into battle as they were assigned to French Army command because many white American soldiers refused to perform combat duty with black soldiers.
Max Brooks, the WWZ guy, has written a graphic novel about the Hellfighters, and it sounds rather interesting in the NPR’s All things considered interview below.
http://www.npr.org/player/embed/294913379/297866888
