369TH INFANTRY REGIMENT The 369th Infantry Regiment was a highly decorated unit of African American combat troops during World War I and World War II. The regiment was also known as the Harlem Hellfighters. The regiment was named the Black Rattlers after arriving in France by its commander Colonel William Hayward. The nickname "Men of Bronze" (French: Hommes de Bronze) was given to the regiment by the French after they had witnessed the gallantry of the Americans fighting in the trenches. Legend has it that they were called the Hellfighters (German: Höllenkämpfer) by the German enemy soldiers. During World War I, the 369th spent 191 days in front line trenches, more than any other American unit. They also suffered the most losses of any American regiment, with 1,500 casualties. The regiment was also the first of the Allied forces to cross the Rhine into Germany.
