The 370th boasted of the only race court martial in the army.  There were thirteen members, Lieutenant Colonel Duncan presiding.  Captain Louis E. Johnson was the judge advocate, and Lieutenant Washington was his assistant.  It is not of record that the findings of the court martial were criticized.  At least there was no scandal as there was concerning court martial proceedings in other divisions of the army.  The fact is that there was very little occasion for court martialing among the men of the 370th.  The behavior of the men was uniformly good, as is attested by the fact that every town mayor in France where the men passed through or were billeted, complimented the officers on the splendid discipline and good behavior shown.

Colonel Roberts, a veteran cavalryman, was very fond of his men.  He has repeatedly paid them the highest compliments, not only for their valor and soldierly qualities, but for their quick intelligence, amenity to discipline, and for the clean living which made them so remarkably free from disease.  He has stated that he would not know where to select a better group of men for everything that goes to make up efficient, dependable soldiers.  Colonel Roberts received the Croix de Guerre, with the following citation: 

“A commander entirely devoted to duty, he succeeded by dint of working day and night in holding with his regiment a difficult sector, though the officers and men were without experience, under heavy shelling.  He personally took charge of a battalion on the front line on October 12 and led it to the objectives assigned by the crossing of the Ailette canal.”

American historians may not give the Negro fighters the place to which their records entitle them; that remains to be seen.  From the testimony of French commanders, however, it is evident that the pages of French history will not be printed unless they contain the valiant, patriotic, heroic deeds of the Illinois and New York regiments with their comrades of the 93rd and 92nd Divisions.

In the various sectors to which they were assigned, they were in virtually every important fight.  They met the flower of the Kaiser’s forces, held them and on more than one occasion made them retreat.  The Hun had misjudged them and it was fortunate that he had.  They endured their share of hardship, marching many weary miles, day after day, without sufficient food.  Nothing could affect their spirit and dash.  When the call came, they went over the top, that the world might be made safe for democracy.

Among the officers and men of the 370th were represented about every calling in which the Negro of this day engages.  There were men of professional pursuits; lawyers, doctors and teachers; students, mechanics, business men, farmers and laborers.  The poet of the regiment was Lieutenant Blaine G. Alston.  The following little poem, if properly digested and understood, tells volumes within itself: 

“Over there”