History's Greatest War; A Pictorial Narrative (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 Excerpt: ...maintaining their racial solidarity. More than 1,000 of them achieved commissions, including all ranks from colonel down. One regiment was cited for bravery as a unit. It earned the honor on the firing line in a brilliant and courageous effort at a most critical moment. The enemy felt the steel of its bayonets, and retreated before the impetuous rush of the determined colored soldiers. Many individual Afro-Americans were cited for acts of heroism. They proved themselves unselfish and unflinching comrades, risking their lives often to rescue the wounded, and attending to the needs of the suffering with the greatest care and gentleness under fire. Colored soldiers who did not reach the first line trenches served with equal bravery in the vital work of transport. There are few tasks more dangerous than driving auto-trucks along roads under shell fire, or in the blackness of night, when concealment from the enemy means the risk of ditching in a shell hole or running over an embankment. And there are no tasks more necessary. The maintenance of the transport for munitions and food rations is as essential to victory as the manning of the guns or the charge of the infantry over No Man's land. Neither the gunners nor the infantry can do anything if the transport fails. One of the first Americans to be awarded a croix de guerre by the French was a colored soldier named Hemy Johnson. He and his comrade were defending their position against an enemy attack. Both had played baseball, and both were expert with grenades. They bombed the enemy as long as the grenades held out. Finally, their supply exhausted, they found themselves facing a big German, who leaped into their trench on top of Johnson's companion. Johnson clubbed his rifle and beat the German until it broke in...