When the United States became involved in World War I in 1917, over a million Black men registered to serve. According to the Library of Congress, over three hundred fifty thousand served during World War I. 

Black men served in the Infantry, Cavalry, Engineer Corps, Field Artillery, Coast Artillery, Signal Corps, Medical Corps, Hospital and Ambulance Corps, Aviation Corps, Veterinary Corps, and Depot Brigades. 

In the South and in Georgia, some Black men were prevented from registering for the draft by their employers. Some worked for landowners who did not want them to register or report for duty. Employers would hide their notice to report for duty, which resulted in potential recruits being arrested.   (Georgia Encyclopedia, World War I in Georgia)

3600 Black recuits were sent to Camp Gordon for training. Camp Gordon was a World War I encampment built in early 1917 on land that now includes DeKalb-Peachtree Airport located in Chamblee, Georgia.

The first recruits began arriving on October 3, 1917.  The men were housed in an area known as Block 1, with the same type of facilities but in a separate area of the camp. Segregation and discrimination made life difficult at World War I camps, including Camp Gordon. The men who signed up to serve hoped that by showing their patriotism they might be recognized as full citizens; however, they returned to find life the same as before.    

In November 1917, 1300 Black soldiers from Camp Gordon were sent overseas to France, primarily as part of service battalions. (Atlanta Constitution, November 11, 1917). They were never led by other Black soldiers.

Officer training for Black soldiers was only available at Fort Des Moines in Des Moines, Iowa. This segregated training program was established in May of 1917.  

An October 10, 1917 article and photograph in the Atlanta Constitution references a policy of never letting the number of Black soldiers at Camp Gordon exceed twenty five percent.

Somewhere between forty and fifty thousand Black recruits served under French commanders during World War I.  Most of these were part of the 93rd division of the American Expeditionary Force. The 93rd became known as Blue Helmets because they fought alongside the French wearing French blue helmets while wearing the U. S. WWI uniform.  

France awarded honors and medals to multiple regiments of both the 92nd and 93rd Divisions. One hundred seventy-one soldiers from the divisions received the French Legion of Honor.  

It was several decades before two Black soldiers were awarded the U. S. Medal of Honor. From the 93rd Division, Corporal Freddie Stowers was awarded his posthumously on April 24, 1991 and Sergeant Henry Johnson posthumously on June 2, 2015.  (nps.gov)

Below are the records of three black soldiers from Georgia, all reporting to Camp Gordon in Chamblee, all beginning their service in the 157th Depot Brigade. Each man deserves our gratitude for his service to his country.

Sam Hughes of Jeffersonville, Georgia served overseas from June of 1918 until the end of war.  He was part of the Replacement Draft, serving in France with the 93rd Division, 369th Infantry.   

Alexander Merkerson of Alapaho, Georgia began his service at the age of 18 years.  He was part of the 92nd Division, Company E 317th Engineers.  He served overseas from June 1918 until the end of the war, returning to the U.S. in March 1919.

Clarence Powell of Savannah Georgia was almost 22 years old when he began his service.  He was part of the 93rd Division, 371st Infantry.  Powell died of pneumonia overseas in December 1918.  He served at the Champagne sector and Vegoes sector and is buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.  (American Battles Monuments Commission)

The Georgia Memorial Database of soldiers who died during WWI is being updated and includes Black soldiers. A book of WWI dead from Georgia published in 1921 included only white soldiers. You can go to the US WWI centennial commission website to search for soldiers who died. Information available includes what county in Georgia they are from, their city, date of death, ethnicity, citations and cause of death.

Other sources cited:  raycityhistory.wordpress.com, ancestry.com