Curved stereoview photo shows Black troops aligned for inspection in France. The caption reads: “18663–Soldiers of the Allies Knew Neither Color Nor Creed in The Big Fight for Victory–Review of Troops at Marseilles.”
The left margin reads “Keystone View Company Manufacturers, Publishers, Made in USA, Copyrighted, Underwood and Underwood” The right margin reads: “Meadville, Pa,. New York, N.Y., Portland, Oregon, London, Eng., Sydney, Aus.”
Back: “18663 Soldiers of the Allies Knew Neither Color Nor Creed. General Pershing’s final report of the war makes no reference to color troops as such. You may search standard histories for special mention of them with no better results. This was not because General Pershing did not recognize their worth, for he did, in a special communication. It was not because the public did not appreciate them, for they did. The allies simply broke down all lines of creed. It was colored troops, the 10th cavalry, who saved the “Rough Riders” from annihilation in the Spanish American war. Color troops also saved the 56th infantry (white) from certain death in the world war. The 367th, the “Buffaloes,” advanced through “Death Valley” in the face of continuous fire and rescue them from the pocket in which they were trapped. For this the entire first battalion received the Croix de Guerre. In all of their career they lived up to the regimental motto–“See it through.” From every side came tributes to the negro’s worth as a soldier. He had fine endurance and was a splendid hiker. He proved kindly, willing, and have a few complaints. Is sunny disposition and appreciation of humor help to lighten the hardships of war. He excelled in the use of the bayonet, and natural ability added to military training making made him most dangerous in a hand-to-hand contest. Said Col. Moss, who commanded the color troops through the Cuban and Filipina campaigns and the Worlds War, “Make the colored man feel that you have faith in him… treat him as any other human being out of whom you would get the best there is in him, and you will have as good a soldier as history has ever known.”
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