What Up February Day 23 War...What is it good for?

There was a whole battalion of African-American soldiers in World War I known as the "Hellfighters." A great percentage of them were decorated with highest honors: Read the following:

"Hell Fighters" From Harlem

Sechault, France, September 29, 1918.

From Harlem streets and other New York City neighborhoods they came, members of the only U.S. unit to get "over there" with their old State name -- the 15th New York. These black National Guardsmen soon found themselves with a new name, the 369th Infantry Regiment. Many months after their arrival in the war zone the 369th Infantry, as part of the French Army’s 161st Division, marched toward a date with destiny in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. On a fateful day, September 29, a regimental historian would later remember, "the day dawned clear and cool. There was expectancy in the air." A fierce artillery barrage preceded the attack by the 369th, nicknamed "Hell Fighters" by the enemy. After a brutal struggle during which heavy casualties were sustained Sechault was taken and the 369th soldiers dug in to consolidate their advance position. The action depicted earned the Croix de Guerre for the entire regiment. But the Meuse-Argonne claimed nearly one-third of these black fighting men as battle casualties. This distinguished National Guard Regiment left its proud mark on the AEF as "the regiment that never lost a man captured, a trench or a foot of ground..." Today’s 369th Transportation Battalion1, New York Army National Guard, carries on the traditions of the gallant "Hell Fighters" of yesterday. (1989) While this was true in 1989 (when the caption was written), the 369th Infantry is perpetuated in today's Army by the 369th Support Battalion.


Many blacks were drafted and shipped off to Vietnam...Here's a classic protest song from that era, but by a black artist, Edwin Starr: “War": What is it Good for?



Jimi Hendrix served in the Army in the 1960's. Here is a rare studio version of “Machine Gun,” followed by a brief continuation of same.



Continuation of rare studio version, shorter piece, “Machine Gun”


Bob Marley War