Far too often, when histories are recounted on the role of Black members of the U.S. military every Veterans Day, overlooked or left out completely are the stories of Afro-Puerto Ricans who served in segregated units, separated from Puerto Ricans who were deemed “white,” just as mainland soldiers served in racially divided companies and divisions.
So while we’ve heard stories about the famed World War I 369th Infantry Regiment, who were dubbed “The Harlem Hellfighters,” and of the Harlem Hellfighters Regimental Marching Band, until fairly recently we heard nothing of the Hellfighters who were both Puerto Rican and Black.
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Dr. Harry Franqui-Rivera wrote about the Black Puerto Rican Hellfighters for El Centro.
During World War I, many Puerto Ricans were drafted, recruited or volunteered while residing in the continental United States. They were sent to either black or white units depending on their skin color. A curious case is that of James Reese Europe, a distinguished African-American jazz musician who obtained an officer (lieutenant) commission with the New York National Guard and served with the 369th Colored Infantry Regiment. The 369th would be known as the “Harlem Hellfighters” for their distinguished role in France.
Europe visited Puerto Rico and recruited some two dozen Puerto Ricans for his band. Among them were brothers Rafael and Jesús Hernández. Rafael Hernandez is considered by many as Puerto Rico’s greatest composer.
Besides the 18 Puerto Ricans recruited for the regimental band, about a dozen Afro-Puerto Ricans from New York joined or were drafted into this regiment. Unlike most black units, the 369th saw combat because it was placed under French command. Due to the high casualties suffered by the French Army since 1914, losing a whole generation of men by the end of the war, and because they were fighting in their own country, the French command was no longer squeamish about who they allowed to fight to save France from defeat.
This list of the Hellfighters was compiled by Dr. Basilio Serrano.
Here’s an image of the Hernández brothers.
The tweet below, written in Spanish, is loosely translated below:
“Photo of the band of Puerto Rican musicians active in the French combat front during the First World War. The article mentions Eligio Rijos, Rafael Duchesne, Froilán Ramiz, Pablo Fuentes, Antonio González, Rafael Hernández and Jesús Hernández. France. 1918”
Nigel Thompson wrote about the Afro-Puerto Rican Hellfighters for Al Dia in 2019.
Afro-Puerto Rican members of the Hellfighters’ band helped define the regiment’s cultural impact on Europe
When considering the contributions of African-Americans to the U.S. armed forces, there are few individuals or groups more renowned than the 369th Infantry Regiment. Also known as the Harlem Hellfighters, it was one of the first predominantly African-American regiments to serve with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. The troop served under French Command because the U.S. Army refused to recognize it, and spent six months on the front line, losing approximately 1,500 men. Their heroics earned them a regimental Croix de Guerre from the French Army.
But while the regiment’s heroics in the face of discrimination are an integral part of national African-American history, their cultural impact on Europe isn’t as recognized. The Hellfighters’ band, which performed all over France during the regiment’s deployment, is credited for bringing jazz to Europe. Even less known is the Afro-Puerto Rican heritage that many of the regiment’s members also shared and expressed in their time in Europe.
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Of the 44 members of the Hellfighters’ band, 18 were recruited from Puerto Rico. The island was a haven for musical talent, with a tradition of municipal bands that resembled military ones. Puerto Ricans’ unhindered access to instruments also meant they could learn more of a range of instruments, unlike their African-American bandmates, who were subject to Jim Crow laws, which forbid music education and access to more expensive brass instruments.
Sheet music was released of the band’s music in 1918; the compilation was called When the good Lord makes a record of a hero's deed, He draws no color line.
In “The Greatest Jibarito: Afro-Boricua Rafael Hernández,” Elena Martinez wrote for Centro Voices about the history of Puerto Rico’s most famous composer.
Rafael Hernández was a prolific composer of the popular music of his day, Cuban boleros and guarachas. He is considered not just the greatest Puerto Rican composer but one of the best in Latin America because his songs, such as the anthem, “Lamento borincano,” resonated throughout the region.
[...]
In 1917 Rafael met the renowned African American bandleader James Reese Europe. In 1910 Europe founded an orchestra of over 100 musicians, and the following year it was the first Black group to play Carnegie Hall. As the U.S. was about to enter World War I, Lt. Europe was asked to organize an African American military band and fighting unit for the segregated army. To complete the band he wanted horn players who could read music so he traveled to the island and recruited 18 Afro Puerto Ricans from the island’s municipal bands. The fact that Puerto Ricans had recently received U.S. citizenship facilitated the recruitment of Puerto Ricans into the military and thus into the orchestra. Rafael Hernández was recruited into Europe’s 369th Regiment band as a trombone player and became a sergeant during World War I. Other musicians who were recruited from Puerto Rico included Rafael Duchesne Mondríguez from Fajardo, who played first clarinet, and Rafael Hernández's brother Jesús. Hernández and the others went to North Carolina for basic training. Europe’s 369th Regiment, which became known as the “Hellfighters,” was considered to have introduced jazz to the European continent. They gained the nickname during their tour of duty for their bravery on the battlefield. After the war the 369th U.S. Infantry band began recording for the Pathé label and toured briefly until James Reese Europe was tragically murdered after a concert by his drummer. The group disbanded and the musicians had to strike out on their own.
Most mainstream histories on the topic of the Harlem Hellfighters tend to downplay or barely mention the role of the Puerto Rican musicians that were involved in the 369th Regiment during World War I. The ten-part jazz history made by Ken Burns is no exception. In fact in his documentary there is no mention at all that James Reese Europe recruited experienced musicians from the island. This may reflect a larger societal problem in that most issues in that U.S. are dealt with through the perspective of race in Black and White only, without taking into account the complexity which defies easy explanations.
Rafael Hernández would go on to find fame throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, and Latin America.
His most covered song, “Lamento Boricano” (“Puerto Rican Lament”), also known as “El Jibarito” (The Hillbilly), is a classic. Here’s a version recorded by Marc Anthony.
This and every Veterans Day, as we honor those who served, let us also remember Hernández and his Afro-Boricua brothers for their service as Harlem Hellfighters.
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