Cpl. Lawrence Leslie McVey, Sr., American, 1897 - 1968 Search this
369th Infantry Regiment, American, 1913 - 1945 Search this
Written by:
Cpl. Lawrence Leslie McVey, Sr., American, 1897 - 1968 Search this
Medium:
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper, with graphite on paper
Dimensions:
H x W: 3 9/16 × 5 1/2 in. (9 × 14 cm)
Type:
portraits
photographic postcards
Place made:
France, Europe
Date:
1918
Caption:
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.
Description:
A black-and-white photographic postcard of Corporal Lawrence McVey in uniform posing with a cane. McVey stands in the center of a studio with a backdrop of an open window overlooking a forest. He is leaning his proper right arm on a square column stand and holding his gloves and cane in his proper left hand. The photograph has multiple tears throughout and a large area of loss at the top center. On the reverse side dark stains can be seen on the top right edge and bottom horizontal edge. On the reverse is a handwritten message. Typed text on the horizontal side of the post card reads, [CARTE POSTALE / Correspondance / Adresse]. The handwritten note begins below [Correspondence] and continues on the right side of the vertical line. McVey is writing to his sister and sending her his address so she could write back to him. The text reads:
Dear sister just a few / lines to let you know / I am well and happy. / [text missing] I only hope you / [text missing] [illegible] are / [text missing] I received a letter / [text missing] sister and she / also sent me the Babies / photos and sister they / are so very cute gee I / would like to see them / now just to kiss their / [sweet?] little face I am / moving now and as / [soon?] as they get where / they are going I will / write you a letter / I am as ever your / loving soldier Brother / pvt LL McVey / Co D. 369th R.I. US. / SP. 103 American E.F. / France / P.S. give my love and / best wishes to all I / sent mama and [Willie?] / a photo also
