Members of the Harlem Hellfighters, soldiers in the 369th Infantry Regiment, pose for a photo in 1919. Front row, left to right: Pvt. Ed Williams, Herbert Taylor, Pvt. Leon Fraitor, Pvt. Ralph Hawkins. Back row, left to right: Sgt. H.D. Primas, Sgt. Dan Storms, Pvt. Joe Williams, Pvt. Alfred Hanley, Cpl. T.W. Taylor. (National Archives)

WASHINGTON — The Harlem Hellfighters — an African-American regiment that fought longer on the frontlines of World War I than any other Army unit its size — were honored Wednesday with the Congressional Gold Medal more than a century after the conflict ended.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., accompanied by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other members of Congress, led the presentation of Congress’ highest civilian honor for distinguished contributions to the relatives and loved ones of the Harlem Hellfighters.

Nicknamed “hellfighters” for their tenaciousness on the battlefield, the 369th Infantry Regiment fought for 191 days in continuous combat in France, without losing ground or a single soldier captured, according to Johnson and other speakers at the Gold Medal ceremony.

“My grandfather and the other brave men never thought their courage and exploits would be celebrated in such a revered setting,” said Debra Willett, granddaughter of Sgt. Leander Willett.

A display on the “Harlem Hellfighters” of World War I is shown Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington. The display was part of a presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal honoring the regiment. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

The front of a Congressional Gold Medal honoring World War I’s “Harlem Hellfighters” on display in Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

The back of a Congressional Gold Medal honoring World War I’s “Harlem Hellfighters” on display in Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

She accepted the award on behalf of descendants of the Harlem Hellfighters during a packed two-hour ceremony at Emancipation Hall in the Capitol.

The regiment had about 4,500 Black American soldiers who fought under French command during World War I and experienced about 1,500 casualties.

“Today America pauses to bestow an honor we all know is long overdue,” Johnson told an audience of about 500 people. He said the regiment fought to protect freedoms denied to African-Americans of that era.

For Marcia Holmes, who drove from her home in Pittsburgh, Pa., the award connects her with a past she knew nothing about.

Her ancestor, Henry Davis Primas, was assigned as a private to the regiment’s medical detachment due to his background as a pharmacist, according to the National Archives.

“We’ve been shocked and touched to learn about H.D. Primas and his accomplishments,” Holmes said. “I had no information about my great great uncle or his contributions until we received news about the Gold Medal.”

Debra Willett, center, granddaughter of Harlem Hellfighter Sgt. Leander Willett, is presented with a Congressional Gold Medal honoring the Harlem Hellfighters of World War I Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attends a presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal honoring Harlem Hellfighters of World War I Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Col. Bryon Linnehan, commander of 369th Sustainment Brigade of the New York National Guard, speaks during a presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal honoring the “Harlem Hellfighters” of World War I on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

The Harlem Hellfighters originally were a National Guard unit based in Harlem, N.Y. The soldiers filled their mission with purpose, despite experiencing racism and prejudice at home, according to speakers at Wednesday’s ceremony.

“These patriots loved America even when America did not show the same love to them,” said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

Col. Bryon Linnehan, commander of the 369th Sustainment Brigade, also formally accepted the honor and offered remarks. The brigade is a New York Army National Guard unit that is a descendant of the Harlem Hellfighters.

“It’s humbling to be in the presence of descendants of our famed World War I heroes,” he said.

Hegseth said the Harlem Hellfighters “faced the enemy head-on and at point blank range.”

“They were exceptional Americans,” he said. “May we honor them forever especially because they were not honored in their time.”

A Congressional Gold Medal honoring the “Harlem Hellfighters” of World War I is displayed Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Retired Army colonel Andre Kernes attends a presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal honoring the “Harlem Hellfighters” of World War I on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine attends a presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal honoring “Harlem Hellfighters” of World War I Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Hegseth took several minutes at the end of the ceremony to detail the history and heroics of the 369th regiment.

The regiment was among the first to be shipped off to Europe to fight in World War I in 1917. But the Harlem Hellfighters faced discrimination within the U.S. Army that was not desegregated until 1948.

The Army assigned the African-American unit to the French army because of segregation within its own ranks. They were issued French weapons and helmets.

Andres Kerne — a retired Army colonel from Maryland who watched the ceremony — said he considers the Harlem Hellfighters’ achievements to be “a critical part of military history — not just as a Black regiment but as soldiers in general. Their contributions are not forgotten.”

There have been two other Congressional Gold Medals awarded to African-American military groups — the Tuskegee Airmen in 2007 and the Montfort Point Marines in 2011, both from World War II.

“Despite the courage, sacrifice and dedication proudly displayed by the Harlem Hellfighters to their country, they returned home to face racism and segregation from their fellow countrymen,” said Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., who worked with the Willett family since 2019 to ensure the Harlem Hellfighters were recognized for their military contributions.

In 2019, Suozzi helped obtain a Purple Heart for Sgt. Leander Willett, who was initially declined for lack of documentation, according to Suozzi’s office.

The actions of the Harlem Hellfighters contributed to the eventual desegregation of the military, the Department of Veterans Affairs said after the Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act was signed into law Aug. 25, 2021.

“The 369th Infantry Regiment will forever be remembered as pioneers of change and defenders of liberty,” the agency said in a news release.