805th Pioneer Infantry
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 division saw 39 days of action.
| 805th Pioneer Infantry | |
|---|---|
| Country |  |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Pioneer Infantry |
Entertainment and sports
During World War I, the regiment was nicknamed "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, and the best baseball team of any outfit in France."[1]
Notable personnel
- 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
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See also
Other 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
- Lefferts, Peter M. Lefferts, "Black US Army Bands and Their Bandmasters in World War I," University of Nebraska-Lincoln, August 21, 2012
- Bliss, Paul Southworth (1889–1940), Victory: History of the 805th Pioneer Infantry, American Expeditionary Forces, Saint Paul, Minnesota: published by the author (1919) (typed draft); OCLC 47888345, 8933282"Presenting Billing Higgins," pps. 203–204
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