The 805th Pioneer Infantry was an all-African American infantry regiment of the United States Army during World War I. The 805th contained black soldiers from the state of Mississippi. The regiment landed in France in July 1918 and served in Europe until July 1919; the regiment saw 39 days of action.
| 805th Pioneer Infantry | |
|---|---|
| Country |  United States |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Pioneer Infantry |
Entertainment and sports
editDuring World War I, the regiment was nicknamed the "Bear Cats." A commander, Colonel Chauncey Benton Humphrey (1872–1958) (USMA 1898), boasted that, among other things, his Bear Cats had "the best Jazz band in France," "the best vaudeville show in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), and the best baseball team of any outfit in France."[1]
Notable personnel
edit- Moses Hardy (1894–2006), Supercentenarian, served in the 805th during World War I
- Billy Higgins (1888–1937), vaudeville comedian, songwriter[2] served in the 805th during World War I, rising to the rank of Color Sergeant
- Joseph D. Patch (1885–1966), commanded the regiment's 1st Battalion from December 1918 to June 1919; major general during World War II[2]: 190–191 [3]
See also
editOther segregated, non-white units in the U.S. Armed Forces
- 185th Brigade (Infantry)
- 369th Infantry Regiment (Harlem Hellfighters)
- 370th Infantry Regiment (The Black Devils)
- 186th Brigade (Infantry)
- Other
Related articles
References
edit- ^ Lefferts, Peter M. Lefferts, "Black US Army Bands and Their Bandmasters in World War I," University of Nebraska-Lincoln, August 21, 2012
- ^ a b Bliss, Paul Southworth (1889–1940), Victory: History of the 805th Pioneer Infantry, American Expeditionary Forces, Minneapolis, Minnesota: Augsburg Publishing House (1919) (typed draft); OCLC 47888345, 8933282"Presenting Billing Higgins," pps. 203–204
- ^ "Major General J. D. Patch To Visit Lebanon". Lebanon Daily News. Lebanon, PA. August 24, 1948. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.