The 369th Infantry Regiment was the first African-American regiment to fight in World War I. First constituted on June 2, 1913 as the 15th New York Infantry Regiment of the New York Army National Guard, it was renamed in 1918.

The 369th shipped out at the end of 1917 and was assigned to labor service roles upon arrival in France. The regiment had faced significant discrimination and harassment from civilians and fellow soldiers while in training in the U.S., and in France many white American soldiers refused to serve alongside them.

In April 1918, command of the 369th was handed over to the French Army. The men of the regiment were issued French helmets and weapons and sent into combat. The French, for the most part, did not share the prejudices of their American counterparts, and were happy to serve with the men of the 369th.

Read the article “The All-Black WWI Regiment Renowned for Courage Despite Prejudice” on mashable.com.