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366th Infantry Regiment
Officers of the United States Army's 366th Infantry Regiment on board the RMS Aquitania, en route home from World War I. Left to right: Lieutenant Cleveland L. Abbott, Yankton, South Dakota; Captain Joseph L. Lowe, Pacific Grove, California; Lieutenant Aaron R. Fisher, Lyles, Indiana, recipient of Distinguished Service Cross; Captain E. White, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
ActiveNovember 1917–25 March 1919
10 February 1941-28 March 1945
Country United States
BranchUnited States Army
TypeInfantry
SizeRegiment
Garrison/HQFort Devens, Massachusetts
Motto(s)"Labor Conquers All Things."
EngagementsWorld War I,
World War II
Battle honoursMeuse-Argonne Offensive,
Rome-Arno Campaign
U.S. Infantry Regiments
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365th Infantry Regiment 367th Infantry Regiment


The 366th Infantry Regiment was an all African American (segregated) unit of the United States Army that served in both World War I and World War II. In the latter war, the unit was exceptional for having all black officers as well as troops. The U.S. military did not desegregate until after World War II. During the war, for most of the segregated units, all field grade (majors and above) and most of the company grade officers (second lieutenants, first lieutenants, and captains) were white.

First and only combat regiment commanded by a "colored" colonel to enter into combat in US military history. Howard Donovan Queen was the commander

World War I

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The 366th Infantry was constituted 16 August 1917, assigned to the 92nd Division, and organized at Camp Dodge, Iowa, in November 1917.[1]

In World War I, the Regiment served overseas as a part of the 92nd Division, National Army in the Meuse-Argonne Sector, St. Die Sector, and Marbach Sector France.[1]


The 366th Infantry was demobilized 25 March 1919 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and reconstituted 16 December 1940 in the Regular Army.[1]

New England guard duty

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The 366th Infantry Regiment was one of the few battalions armed, trained and ready to go defend sensitive facilities and infrastructure throughout New England[2]


Maine

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WWI, Germans sent soldiers to the US to sabotage infrastructure.[3]

German soldier took train to Vanceboro with three suitcases of explosives, blew up the RR bridge[3]

Platoons from the 366th armed, trained, had weapons, trucks, sent out to guard airfields, waterworks, railroad bridges and other sensitive infrastructure in Maine,

Playing catch and were recruited to join local baseball team; Baseball team won league championship[3]

Army got local national guard andd other units to replace Black Guards who went back to Devins to keep training in infantry[3]

"Soldiers lived in boxcars at Dunn’s Corner in North Yarmouth, and residents like the Atkins family, which had a farm near the outpost, made friends with the troops, according to Kanes. The soldiers went to dances and a swimming hole, played cards with residents, and attended a bean supper, she added."[2]

"Troops were also stationed in Falmouth, where they joined a baseball team and guarded the Presumpscot River Bridge, Kanes said."[2]

366th called Camp Keyes home while in Maine[4]

Left Maine in 1942[2]

Rhode Island

[edit]

Guarded rubber plant in Bristol? RI that was the biggest rubber plant in the country.[3]


World War II

[edit]

The 366th Infantry Regiment was activated on 10 February 1941 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts and assigned to the Eastern Defense Command on 30 April 1942.[1]


Arrived at night, townspeople didn't know, woke up to 4k armed soldiers outside the city, successfully got them moved out.[3]

Drove to Camp Atteriberry (sp?) just south of Indianapolis[3]

Trained at Atterbury until March /44, sent back to Camp Hemry VA to prepare to deploy[3]

Fort Devens

[edit]

From February 1941 until November of 1943, the 366th was based at Fort Devens in Massachusetts. Many soldiers who came from more southern parts of the United States struggled to adjust to the cold and snow. Several men died during this period, and at least one was buried in the cemetary at Fort Devens. Lieutenant Elmer Best, another enlisted member of the 366th from New York City, was killed in a gun accident during this time.[3]

The approximately 3200 enlisted men of the 366th Infantry Regiment were accompanied at all times by between 126 and 180 officers. While the brigade was comprised exclusively of soldiers of color, they were not all African-American: Several soldiers of East Asian descent were also enlisted in the 366th.[3][2] The regiment was one of very few World War II units comprised both of African-American soldiers and African-American officers at both the junior and senior levels.[5]

Also unique was the regiment's embedded services and its lack of attachment to a combat division. The 366th contained embedded anti-tank, cannon artillery, and medical detachment services. Most other regiments needed to call on other battalions to provide these services, but the 366th could move around more smoothly as they were self-sufficient in these areas. The regiment was also designated as "separate" in that they were not attached directly to a combat regiment, and were instead attached to commands above the division level. In order to enter combat, the 366th would need to attach itself to a combat division.[3]

Africa

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Sailed from Hampton Roads to Casablanca, train to Oran, Algeria; ship to Naples[3]

March 1944, sent to Oran, North Africa where white officers mistreated and demoralized them. Commanding Officer Queen forbidden from entering officers' club.[6]

6 April 1944, arrived North Africa[5][1]


Italy

[edit]

Sent to Italy in April 1944, split up across southern part of the country[7]

Guarded Air Force installations throughout Italy at first--Sardinia to the Adriatic Coast--for the Fifteenth Air Force Service Command.[8]

“Our mission was to provide air base security and to guard ammunition dumps, bomb dumps, etc."[7]

Went to base in Foggia, got split/spread out again; security at 20+ airfields.[3]


Offered to Fifth Army on 30 May 1944, but offer was rescinded due to preparations needed/requested by commanding officer.[8]

Used softball to maintain good relationships with other Allied units[8]

Brass began to worry that guard duty w/ limited training was eroding combat readiness[8]

Northern Italy/combat

[edit]

28 October 1944, instructed to move to Leghorn, Italy to become the fourth regiment of the 92nd Division[8]

First and only combat regiment commanded by a "colored" colonel to enter into combat in US military history. Howard Donovan Queen was the commander.[3][1]

"The 366th arrived in Leghorn on 26 November and, upon arrival, was attached to the 92d Division. The division issued training orders and inspected and quizzed the men and officers of the regiment. It determined, for training purposes, to attach units of the regiment to its own elements, despite the concern of the 366th's commander that the regiment be given additional training and that it retain its integrity. On 30 November, the fourth day after arrival, the first of the 366th's units, Company E, entered the line attached to the 3d Battalion, 371st Infantry, then on the coast. The 366th Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon was attached to the division's reconnaissance troop on the following day. Its B Company was attached to the 3d Battalion, 371st; its 2d Battalion, less Company E, moved into the 370th's forward positions in the Serchio valley on 2 December; its I Company went to the 371st Infantry on 5 December, its cannon company to the 370th Infantry and its antitank company to the 371st Infantry on 9 December; and its K Company to the 370th on II December. Its 1st Battalion, operating directly under the division and not under regimental control, relieved the 3d Battalion, 371st Infantry, in the coastal sector on 12-13 December."[8]

Queen had kept the regiment united despite calls to split them up, send them to be stevedores, etc. Asked for thirty days to get them re-trained as infantry since they had been split up and doing security for so long. 92nd commander (General Edweard Molloy Almond) promised 15 days. Arrived 27 November, three days later started being sent to the front lines. In Italy 90 days.[3]

November 27, sent to Tuscany to Livorno to attach to the 92nd division opposing the Germans at a series of fortifications across Tuscany called "Gothic line" or "green line" where Germans had built caves and high fortifications to stop Allies from going north. 92nd was having trouble breaking through; 366 sent to assist[3]

Joined 92nd "Buffalo Soldiers" in Livorno 1944[5]

Almond told soldiers in the 366th: "I did not send for you. Your Negro newspapers, Negro politicians, and white friends have insisted on your seeing combat and I shall see that you get combat and your share of the casualties." Cites Howard Queen's The Invisible Soldier, page has three digits[3]

"Major General Edward Almond, commanding general of the 92nd, said that he had not asked for them"[7]

"Split between the Serchio River Valley and Cinquale Canal near the coast"[5]

92nd picked out smaller units, left officers behind (didn't want the 366th's officers. Soldiers orphaned without trusted commanders[3]

366th Infantry closed into Barga for attachment to the 370th Infantry on 3 December[8]

"50 soldiers died that day from that regiment" (probably talking about Sommocolonia?)[3] Battle of Sommocolonia, engaged fire with Germans daily[7] 366th lost 2/3 of its troops at Sommocolonia[5]

Sinquale (sp?) canal; tried to cross the canal in the face of overwhelming German artillery, suffered lots of casualties in two days[3]

Italy: 1300 casualties[5]

"Overall" 2997 battle casualties and 56 prisoners of war[7]

Lt. Col. Alonzo Ferguson made commander 15 December 1944 after Queen (?) asked for relief and was "evacuated for physical disability"[8]

After the war

[edit]

Disbanded March 1945, transferred to "engineering service regiments".[5][1]

Only unit of the 92nd that was stripped of its infantry status[5]

When they arrived back in the US, they were made to sit in the rear of the transport buses. German POWs rode in front.[5]

Very difficult to put the list of names, photos, information about the soldiers together. Much more difficult than for the Buffalo Soldiers. No list for this regiment. Many names not even on the WWII site of names of soldiers killed[3]


Notable veterans

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John R. Fox, Medal of Honor recipient

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The 366th Infantry Regiment is formed". Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lear, Alex (15 May 2014). "Soldier's son to share, seek Maine history of 'colored' battalion". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af Pratt, James (9 November 2013). 366th Infantry Regiment (Colored) (Separate) (video). Fort Devens Museum: Fort Devens Historical Society. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Camp Keyes Historical Photos". Maine National Guard. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "WWII's fallen Black soldiers of 366th Infantry Regiment include one from Bryn Mawr". Maineline Media News. 5 February 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b "WWII Buffalo Soldier Rothacker Smith, 366th Infantry Regiment". The National WWII Museum. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference WWII museum was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Ulysses Lee (2000) [1966]. "XIX - Mountain and Plain". The Employment of Negro Troops. United States Army Center of Military History. LCCN 66-60003. CMH Pub 11-4. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  9. ^ "366 lack of officers". The Pittsburgh Courier. Associated Negro Press (ANP). 15 March 1941. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Walton, Ben (2017). Great Black War Fighters: Profiles in Service Revised Edition-2017. Strategic Book Publishing & Rights Agency. p. 54. ISBN 9781946539458.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "Prominent Veterans of the 366th Infantry Regiment". Braided In Fire. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  12. ^ Nelson, Paul (24 September 2018). "Civil rights activist Ralph F. Boyd Sr. dies at 99". Times Union. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
Cite error: A list-defined reference named "mistreatment" is not used in the content (see the help page).

Further reading

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  • E. Brooke, Bridging The Divide: My Life, Rutgers University Press, 2006. Archive link. ISBN 0-8135-3905-6. Pages 26-29.
  • E. V. Converse III, The Exclusion of Black Soldiers from the Medal of Honor in World War II, McFarland & Company, 1997. Archive link. ISBN 0-7864-0277-6
  • H.B. Hargrove, Buffalo Soldiers in Italy: Black Americans in World War II, McFarland & Company, 1985. ISBN 0-89950-116-8
  • J.A. Sawicki, Infantry Regiments of the U.S. Army, Wyvern, 1981. ISBN 0-9602404-3-8. Page 522.
  • S.L. Stanton, Order of Battle, U.S. Army, World War II, California Presidio Press, 1984. ISBN 0-88365-775-9. Page 252.
  • H.E. Russell, Company I 366th Infantry, RoseDog Books, 2008. ISBN 978-0-8059-8992-2. Page 34.
  • S. Wales, Braided in Fire, Knox Press, 2020. ISBN 9781948496032.
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366 CategoryMilitary units and formations in Massachusetts CategoryMilitary units and formations established in 1917 CategoryAfrican Americans in World War I CategoryAfrican Americans in World War II CategoryAfrican-American United States Army personnel

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