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Purple Heart medal issued to Cpl. Lawrence Leslie McVey

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@ National Museum of African American History and Culture

Description

Due to racial tension within the US Army, the 369th Infantry Regiment was assigned to the French Army for the duration of US involvement in World War I. Formed from the 15th New York National Guard Regiment and nicknamed the "Harlem Hellfighters," the 369th was the first African American regiment to reach the battlefields of World War I and the first Allied troops to reach the banks of the Rhine. Upon completion of the 369th’s service in the war, the regiment had spent 191 days in combat, the longest of any American regiment. In appreciation for their actions in the Maison-en-Champagne campaign, the 369th was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Government for acts of bravery in conflicts against the enemy. In addition to this honor, 171 individual members of the 369th Regiment were awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor. The 369th Regiment finished their service in Europe and returned to the US in February 1919.The Purple Heart issued for Corporal Lawrence Leslie McVey features a gold heart with an image of George Washington on a ribbon. The ribbon is purple with white edges. The ribbon is connected to a gold pinback through an opening on top of the pin. The bottom of the pin is sewn with white thread to the ribbon. The medal hangs from its ribbon by a rectangular metal loop with rounded corners. The heart is gold plated with a purple interior heart containing a profile of General George Washington....
Format:
Gold And Enamel On Metal With Silk (Textile)
Rights:
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Gina R. McVey, Granddaughter
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Record Contributed By

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Record Harvested From

Smithsonian Institution

Keywords

  1. African American
  2. African Americans
  3. Mc Vey,, Lawrence Leslie
  4. Military
  5. United States
  6. United States Army
  7. World War I
  8. World War, 1914 1918

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