The second monument from the left of the series of monuments.

Monument

A rough-hewn stone monument bearing a rectangular plaque dedicated to the 369th US Infantry Regiment. The plaque is written in French and English.

From April to September 1918, the 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the Harlem Hellfighters, was engaged in intense combat near Massiges, specifically in the vicinity of La Main de Massiges, a strategically important hill resembling a hand, with its fingers being key trench lines. This region, part of the Champagne sector, was notorious for its harsh conditions and violent confrontations during World War I.

The 369th, fighting alongside French forces, faced constant artillery bombardment, poison gas attacks, and grueling trench warfare. Their experiences mirrored those of many others on the Western Front, dealing with the misery of trench life—mud, vermin, and the omnipresent threat of death from German machine guns and artillery. Despite these challenges, the 369th became renowned for their resilience and bravery under fire. They helped push back German forces in critical offensives, contributing to Allied advances in the Champagne-Marne region.

The regiment distinguished itself by spending more days in combat than any other American unit, facing significant casualties but never losing ground or a soldier to capture. This period saw them enduring some of the most brutal conditions of the war but earning accolades for their valor, including the prestigious Croix de Guerre from France.

Source of information: https://ww1revisited.com, https://www.history.com, https://en.wikipedia.org

Source of photo: www.google.com/maps

A la mémoire du 369e Régiment d'Infanterie Americain 

(15e Régiment de la Garde Nationale de New York) 

engagé en ceslieux et à ses actes de bravoure. 

 Avril-Septembre 1918

____________

In memory of the 369th US Infantry Regiment 

(15^th Regiment of the National Guard of New York) 

committed in this area and their acts of bravery.

 April-September 1918