[Illustration:  Lieut.  MAXOM and his band, who saw distinguished service in France.]

[Illustration:  Group on edge of Pier waiting to entrain for demobilization camp.  Part of the 351st artillery unit specially mentioned by general Pershing.]

[Illustration:  Salvation army lassies handing out chocolate to two soldiers of 351st artillery.]

[Illustration:  Heroes of 351st artillery greeting friends after DEBARKING from the transport Louisville.]

Major Johnson led his battalion of the 372nd in an attack in the Champagne which resulted in the capture of a German trench, 100 prisoners, an ammunition dump, thirty machine guns and two howitzers.  He received the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor decoration from the French, as well as the Distinguished Service Cross from General Pershing.

Company B of the 372nd, took at Sechault in a raid, seventy-five prisoners and four machine guns.

One of the distinguished units of the 372nd, was the old and famous Company L of the Massachusetts National Guard.  This unit was assembled at Camp Devens and left soon after the declaration of war for the south.  It was stationed for a time at Newport News, and was then incorporated with the 372nd, went to France with that organization and saw its share of service throughout the campaign.  Other distinguished units were the well known Ninth Ohio Battalion National Guard, and National Guard companies from Connecticut, Maryland and Tennessee.

Brigaded with the 372nd in the French “Red Hand” division, was another Negro regiment, the 371st, made up principally of selectives from South Carolina.  It was commanded by Colonel P.L.  Miles.  Among the officers were Major Thomas Moffatt and Captain William R. Richey from Charleston.

The regiment saw practically the same service as the 372nd under General Goybet, was mentioned in divisional and special orders, was decorated by Vice Admiral Moreau, Maritime Prefect of Brest, at the same time the honor was conferred on the 372nd.  The two regiments were together for seven months.  The men of the 371st especially distinguished themselves at Crete des Observatories, Ardeuil and in the plains of Monthois.  Seventy-one individual members received the Croix de Guerre and some the Distinguished Service Cross.  Among the latter were the following: 

Sergeant Lee R. McClelland, Medical Detachment, home address, Boston, Mass., for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 30, 1918.

Corporal Sandy E. Jones, Company C, home address Sumter, S.C.; for extraordinary heroism in action in the Champagne, September 28 and 29, 1918.