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Group of officers of the 370th (Old Fighting 8th) on the deck of the La France. (Left to right: sec Lt. Lawson Price; 2nd Lt. L. W. Stearls; 2nd Lt. Ed. White; 2nd Lt. Eli F. E. Williams; 1st Lt. Oasola Browning; Capt. Louis B. Johnson; 1st Lt. Frank Bates; 1st Lt. Binga Desmond) |
The Eighth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard is said to accept started every bit the volunteer Hannibal Guard militia inwards the twelvemonth 1871. They afterward became a partition of the Illinois National Guard together with was organized during the Spanish-American War of 1898 every bit an all-Black volunteer regiment. Called the "Fighting 8th" infantry, the regiment served along the Mexican edge inwards 1916 together with inwards French Republic nether Colonel Franklin A. Denison during World War I, when the regiment was incorporated into the 370th U.S. Infantry.
The Fighting Eighth gained particular recognition every bit the regiment that finally drove the High German forces from the Aisne-Marne percentage of French Republic prior to the Armistice inwards 1918. Under the leadership of Brigadier General Richard L. Jones, the 370th Infantry Regiment was awarded 71 War Crosses amongst particular citations for valor together with merit together with 21 Distinguished Service Crosses. General Jones was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for valor inwards battle.
The Fighting Eighth gained particular recognition every bit the regiment that finally drove the High German forces from the Aisne-Marne percentage of French Republic prior to the Armistice inwards 1918. Under the leadership of Brigadier General Richard L. Jones, the 370th Infantry Regiment was awarded 71 War Crosses amongst particular citations for valor together with merit together with 21 Distinguished Service Crosses. General Jones was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for valor inwards battle.
Chicago return of the 370th Regiment (Old eighth l1linois)
passing inwards parade at 13th St. together with Michigan Ave.
Some of the Chicago girls welcoming domicile ane of the
military machine men of the 370th (Old eighth Illinois National Guard)
THE EIGHTH REGIMENT ARMORY
Exterior thought of the Eighth Regiment infantry armory
(Source: Chicago Daily News, 1915)
The Eighth Regiment Armory was originally headquartered inwards what has been described inwards the literature every bit a "stable" at the corner of 35th Street together with Forest Avenue inwards Chicago. This facility was inadequate for military machine purposes together with a novel armory edifice was completed inwards 1915 after petitions were circulated inwards the Illinois legislature for a novel armory.
This was the showtime armory built for an African-American military machine regiment inwards the U.S. It was intended for both military machine and community use. It became the site of numerous neighborhood meetings together with social functions inside the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville District inwards the Douglas community expanse of Chicago. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 notable effect at the armory includes a Marcus Garvey, founder of the United Negro Improvement Association.
The avenue where the armory presides was named inwards observe of Lt. George R. Giles, the regiment's highest ranking officeholder to move killed inwards the trace of piece of employment of duty. The armory shut inwards the early on 1960s together with re-emerged every bit the South Central Gymnasium. After an extensive renovation it was reopened inwards 1999 every bit a Chicago world high school. The edifice is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located at 3533 S. Giles Avenue inwards Chicago, Illinois.
VICTORY MONUMENT IN CHICAGO
The Victory Monument inwards Honor of the Fighting Eighth
The Victory Monument was erected inwards 1927 to observe the Black nation of war soldiers of the Eighth Regiment. The pattern of the monument was developed past times French-born sculptor Leonard Crunelle, a onetime student of noted Chicago sculptor Lorado Taft. The sculpture has 3 panels. One panel depicts a Black soldier, about other a Black woman, together with the in conclusion panel depicts the patriotic figure of "Columbia" belongings a tablet where the locations of the regiments major battles are recorded.
The monument was dedicated on Armistice Day, Nov 11, 1928, inwards an elaborate public ceremony. In 1936, the sculpture of a Black soldier was added to the top of the master copy three-panel monument. The Victory Monument is located at the intersection of 35th Street together with Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive inwards Chicago.
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