Photo of a World War 1 African American Soldier in France

[Championhilz]

I picked up this photograph of John Logan Gordon and some of his comrades on Ebay for a whopping 99 cents. Gordon served in the 804th Pioneer Infantry, which was organized July 1918 at Camp Dodge, Iowa, and moved overseas in September 1918. The 804th served with the VI Army Corps from October - November 1918, and returned to the U.S. in July 1919. Unfortunately, I don't know which of the two seated soldiers is Gordon, as the other men in the photo are not identified. The photo was sent to Leavy Gordon, John's mother.

 

 

[Championhilz]

John Logan's tombstone - he died on December 30, 1938, and is buried at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.

 

 

 

 

[world war I nerd]

Nice photo. I suspect that Logan is the soldier seated on the right as the left hand soldier is wearing a French uniform and kepi.

 

To my knowlege, with a few exceptions, such as shoes, gloves, and puttees, Doughboys in the AEF were not issued French uniforms or hats, but given that it's thew AEF, anything is possible.

[Lawdog]

Wasnt there a rather sizeable contingent if African American soldiers serving with the French in WW1?

 

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[world war I nerd]

Lawdog ... you must be referring to the four infantry divisions of the 93rd Infantry Regiment. They served under the command of the French Army from December of 1917 until they returned to the U.S. in 1919.

 

They were however, issued French helmets, French equipment, French weapons and ate French rations, but for the most part, the troops serving in those regiments wore U.S. Army uniforms & insignia during their tenure with the French Army.

 

It's entirely possible that some of the men were issued with articles of French Army clothing, but so far, aside from French helmets, French shoes, and a pair of horizon blue woolen puttees, I've not seen any photographic evidence to support that possibility.

[Lawdog]

Lawdog ... you must be referring to the four infantry divisions of the 93rd Infantry Regiment. They served under the command of the French Army from December of 1917 until they returned to the U.S. in 1919.

 

They were however, issued French helmets, French equipment, French weapons and ate French rations, but for the most part, the troops serving in those regiments wore U.S. Army uniforms & insignia during their tenure with the French Army.

 

It's entirely possible that some of the men were issued with articles of French Army clothing, but so far, aside from French helmets, French shoes, and a pair of horizon blue woolen puttees, I've not seen any photographic evidence to support that possibility.

Thanks for clarifying! I remember reading about black troops serving with the French in WW1, but that was several years ago...

 

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[jagjetta]

Swapping uniforms for photos was a popular "gag" when soldiers from different armies encountered each other during the Great War. I suspect the two African descent men in the front, are indeed, the 804th Pioneer soldiers while the two Caucasian gents in the rear, are actually French soldiers.

 

JAG

[bellasilva]

Man that is a cool shot

[scmcgeorge]

I think JAGJETTA nailed it- the two seated black guys are wearing OD Breeches and puttees- they just swapped coats and hats with the frogs for the photo, Good eye John! Steve McG

[jagjetta]

I think JAGJETTA nailed it- the two seated black guys are wearing OD Breeches and puttees- they just swapped coats and hats with the frogs for the photo, Good eye John! Steve McG

 

 

I knew I had some "documentation" of this phenomena somewhere, but only today, did I stumble across it. Attached is an RPPC of French and US soldiers...but who is who?

 

 

The answer is written on the back:

 

 

"We have changed clothes with the 'poilus,' so all the Americans are seemingly French and the French, Americans. How do I look in a French uniform, with a cross of war pinned to my chest?"

 

John