Fred McIntyre known as Devil's Man holds in his hands a portrait of the Kaiser framed with bullets that he took from a German Soldier
Colorized by Marina Amaral
Corporal Fred McIntyre served in World War I with the USA Army's 369th Infantry Regiment, a lavishly decorated regiment that was better known by its nickname: the Harlem Hellfighters. The Hellfighters, part of the New York National Guard, stood out for several reasons: uncommon courage, the exceptional ragtime-influenced brass band, and their Afroness. Only ten percent of the American soldiers were African.
In July 1918 they were fighting alongside the French along the Marne River. In fact, militarily they became French, as the 369th were integrated into the French Army. They wore hybrid uniforms (including the French Adrian helmet), carried Gallic rifles, and received French troop wine rations.
The Harlem Hellfighters accumulated more casualties on the Western Front than any other American regiment, but received numerous medals for their bravery. One member of the regiment, Henry Porter, nicknamed Black Death, was the first American to receive the prestigious Croix de Guerre, which was also awarded collectively to the entire 369th Regiment.
