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Photographic postcard of Cpl. Lawrence Leslie McVey in uniform

National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Object Details

Photograph by
Alfred Phillip Mighell, English American, 1878 - 1943
Subject of
Cpl. Lawrence Leslie McVey, Sr., American, 1897 - 1968
369th Infantry Regiment, American, 1913 - 1945
Caption
The 369th United States Infantry, nicknamed the “Harlem Hellfighters,” was the first African American regiment of troops to reach the battlefields of World War I. The 369th Regiment was formed from the 15th New York National Guard Regiment and was recognized as part of the U.S. Army on July 15th, 1917. The regiment arrived in Brest, France on January 1st, 1918, being the first African American U.S. soldiers to arrive in France and initially assigned to dam building and stevedores in charge of loading and unloading cargo. The 369th Regiment, due to racial tension within the US Army was assigned to the French Army for the duration of US involvement in WWI. The 369th were the first Allied troops of the war to reach the banks of the Rhine. Upon completion of the 369th’s service in the war, the regiment had spent 191 days in combat, the longest of any American regiment. The entire 369th Regiment, in appreciation for their actions in the Maison-en-Champagne campaign, was given the Croix de Guerre, a medal awarded by the French Government for acts of bravery in conflicts against the enemy. In addition to this honor, 171 individual members of the 369th Regiment were awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor. The 369th Regiment finished their service in Europe and returned to the US in February 1919.
Description
A photographic postcard of Lawrence McVey in uniform posing at attention. The word [HERO] is inscribed in pencil on the top right corner. On the reverse, there is adhesive residue and a piece of Scotch tape. In pencil, the inscription [Lawrence in World / War one.].
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Gina R. McVey, Granddaughter
1914 - 1918
Object number
2011.108.17
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Type
gelatin silver prints
portraits
photographic postcards
Medium
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper, with ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 5 7/16 x 3 7/16 in. (13.8 x 8.7 cm)
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Media Arts-Photography
Exhibition
Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
On View
NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Topic
African American
Military
Photography
World War I
Record ID
nmaahc_2011.108.17
Usage of Metadata (Object Detail Text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd57e657968-76ae-4c31-942b-190833f65ced

Related Content

  • African American WWI Military Service

This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
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