Bullard, Lafayette, Hellfighters, and the Franco-American Connection

War raged once more in Europe in 1914 on a scale that had not been seen since the Napoleonic Wars of the early 1800's. It quickly became the largest modern war fought with the newest technologies. As a massive powerhouse of industry and manpower, the United States made the early decision to stay out of the war and protect its own interests. But many Americans, of all ethnicities, did not agree with this decision. Many protested, many held rallies and demonstrations, but a select few volunteered their lives and services to the war.

Lafayette Escadrille
In the first months of the war, two Americans signed up with the French Foreign Legion, a branch of the French Army which was for all non French nationals who wanted to serve (mainly from the colonies), and, in 1915, were transferred to France’s Service Aeronautique. An American Squadron, N-124 was designated, but German complaints arose because of American neutrality. So the French renamed it to Lafayette Escadrille, in honor of the French general who came to the American's aid in their time of need. By 1918, the squad had 57 victories (though this was 38 pilots and Manfred von Richthofen [the Red Baron] had 80 by himself) and had much popularity in America. It was handed over to American control when the United States entered the war in 1918. The men who volunteered were the high minded volunteers who wanted the honor of the fight. Of the 38, 11 were the sons of millionaires, 30 had college degrees, and 9 of these 30 were Harvard alums. (1)(2)

Eugene Bullard
The son of a freed slave from Georgia, Bullard served in the French air force during WW1 as the first African American fighter pilot. Originally serving in the French Foreign Legion, Bullard was wounded twice at Verdun and was awarded many French military decorations. Although denied from the Lafayette Escadrille for his race, he was able to fly with a French squad where he became known as the Black Swallow of Death. He never missed a mission, had 2 confirmed kills, and when America entered, offered his services. Despite his experience, valor, and ability, he was denied because the American Air Force only wanted white aviators. He would serve as a spy for the French Resistance during WW2 and work as an elevator operator at the Rockefeller Center for the rest of his life. (3)(4)

Harlem Hellfighters
Ten percent of the American population was black and despite having few, if any, connections to Europe, a number of them volunteered when America committed to war. The 369th regiment from New York (thus the name Harlem) was raised alongside a few others, but when they got to France, they were put on guard duty and manual labor just as they had been during all previous wars. Public pressure forced generals to not use them in combat roles. The French needed more men however and the Americans wanted to control their own force. As a compromise, the Americans gave the French "lesser men", the all-black 369th and it's white officers.

But these men were not lesser by any means. They spent 191 days in the trenches (longer than any American unit) and were the first American soldiers to be awarded the Croix de Guerre and two men received the Medal of Honor. They suffered 1500 killed, wounded, or missing and returned as heroes to many, but were left out of parades because of race. Their ability to fight however started to raise questions back home about their status in American society. (5)(6)(7)

French Foreign Legion and Humanitarian Aid
68 Americans served in the French Foreign Legion and they served in the trenches in the Great War. They were of different intellectual and economic classes, but they signed up to serve.

During three terrible, long years, when the sting of criticism cut into every American soul, they were showing the world how their countrymen could fight if only they were allowed the opportunity. To many of us they seemed the saviors of our national honor, giving the lie to current sneers upon the courage of our nation -C. Bentley Mott

 Myron T Herrick, US Ambassador to France worked to get more support for the French cause. Herbert Hoover, future president, created the Belgian Relief Committee to send funds and relief supplies to the beleaguered citizens of occupied Belgium. Thousands of young men and women volunteered to send funds, supplies, administer supplies, serve in the Red Cross, or drive ambulances represented the American support of the Allied cause. Humanitarian aid from the United States created a connection between the youth of Europe and America that would last from the interwar modern day. (8)(9)(10)

(1)https://www.neam.org/lafayette-escadrille/americansinfas.html
(2)http://www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/lafayetteescadrille.htm
(3)http://www.usaww1.com/Eugene-Bullard.php4
(4)http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/apjinternational/apj-s/2005/3tri05/chivaletteeng.html
(5)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_racial_and_ethnic_demographics_of_the_United_States
(6)http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/04/01/294913379/the-harlem-hellfighters-fighting-racism-in-the-trenches-of-wwi
(7)http://forloveofliberty.org/overview/Harlem_Hellfighters.html
(8)https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/first-americans-to-die-in-wwi-may-have-been-volunteers-in-french-army/2015/02/14/a1d137de-b2d8-11e4-827f-93f454140e2b_story.html
(9)http://www.ourstory.info/2/c/Legion.html
(10)http://www.gwpda.org/comment/volsamer.html