Suozzi, Speaker Johnson Lead Ceremony Unveiling Congressional Gold Medal Honoring the Harlem Hellfighters of World War I

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Suozzi introduced, led, and passed the bill, signed into law by President Biden, that awarded the Hellfighters with this medal in 2021.

Washington, D.C.-

"Who would have thought that Congressman Tom Suozzi, Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Speaker Johnson would all come together to honor Black soldiers from World War I?"

That's exactly what happened today after Rep. Suozzi's six-year long effort to honor the Harlem Hellfighters with the Congressional Gold Medal. It's never too late to do the right thing."

Today, the Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal was finally unveiled at a ceremony in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol. This medal is the result of the passage of the Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act, introduced and led by Representative Suozzi.

Congressman Suozzi was approached by the Willett family of Glen Cove in 2019. Debra Willett told him about her grandfather, Sergeant Leander Willett, who served bravely with the Harlem Hellfighters in World War I. Despite being stabbed with a bayonet and attacked with mustard gas, he was never awarded a Purple Heart. Congressman Suozzi posthumously awarded that Purple Heart to his family, and shortly thereafter introduced the Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act to honor all the Hellfighters, more than three dozen of whom are from Suozzi's hometown of Glen Cove.

"It's never too late to do the right thing! The Harlem Hellfighters gave everything for America despite extreme circumstances and intense discrimination. This medal is an effort to recognize their sacrifice, their courage and their service, and to say 'thank you,'" said Congressman Suozzi. "I am so grateful to Congressman Espaillat, from Harlem, and then-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Congresswoman Joyce Beatty for helping get over 300 Members of Congress to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation."

Other speakers at the ceremony included Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, Leader Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Representative Beatty, Secretary Hegseth, Col. Byron Linnehan, Commander of the 369th Sustainment Brigade of the New York National Guard, Dr. Richard Harris, co-chair of the Harlem Hellfighters Recognition Committee, Col. Krewasky Salter, PhD., United States Army, Retired Liaison for the Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act, and Ms. Debra Willett, granddaughter of Harlem Hellfighter Seargent Leander Willett. .

Col. Linnehan and Ms. Willett accepted the medal on behalf of the Hellfighters and their families. The medal will now be held at the Smithsonian Museum, and replicas have been produced by the U.S. Mint.

"Black troops have fought valiantly in every war undertaking by this nation, beginning with the American Revolution, but the Harlem Hellfighters were one of a kind. They were brave, they were bold and beguiling patriots who loved America even when America didn't show the same love to them," said Leader Jeffries. "Today, the entire 369^th Infantry Regiment is being given the Congressional Gold Medal. The highest honor conferred by Congress, the Article 1 branch of government. That's the enduring spirit of the United States of America. The Harlem Hellfighters went from relegation to elevation. We will never forget their bravery, their service, their patriotism, their story will live on forever."

"From the day President Lincoln signed his Emancipation Proclamation, opening the doors of the U.S. Army to Black Americans, we know that generations of African American soldiers have answered that call to fight for freedom whether on battlefields at home or abroad," said Speaker Johnson. "Their nation asked them to fight and they did again and again even while being denied the full measure of those freedoms here on American soil. It was in this spirit that the Harlem Hellfighters took up arms in the First World War. They faced persistent persecution and discrimination in their ranks, but they swore an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and they kept that oath with their lives."

"My grandfather and the other brave men that fought alongside him never thought that their courage, and their exploits would be celebrated in such revered setting. I thank all of you for giving them this honor," said Ms. Debra Willett, granddaughter of Harlem Hellfighter Sergeant Leander Willett. "You know, they sacrificed and they thought they were making a difference. And today proves they did. We will continue their fight for making America and transforming America into a land and a beacon of hope, peace and prosperity. But someday, I know that I will be able to tell my students that I was there when my grandfather and other men that looked like me were so honored by all of you, and I thank you for that."

"We ought always thank almighty god for such mighty men," said Secretary Hegseth. "May we honor them forever, especially because they were not honored in their time. God Bless."

"This moment is about more than medals. It is about truth," said Congresswoman Beatty. "The Harlem Hellfighters were more than soldiers. They were symbols of unshakable courage and patriotism, defending an America that discriminated against them. This Gold Medal will forever preserve their story, their sacrifice, and their place in our history. Harlem Hellfighters, we remember you, we honor you, and we thank you. I'm also grateful to Congressmen Suozzi and Espaillat for their partnership in introducing this bill, and proud that, as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, we were able to help make this historic recognition a reality."

"Today, we are standing united to honor the heroic and selfless service of the Harlem Hellfighters with the Congressional Gold Medal," said Congressman Adriano Espaillat, who represents Harlem in Congress. "We honor the families and legacies of these patriots who gave their all to America's enduring struggle to secure global freedom. They persevered even as they faced racism and discrimination here at home. I was proud to work collaboratively with my colleagues Congressman Suozzi, Congresswoman Beatty, Senators Gillibrand and Schumer to make today possible and ensure our country's most revered patriots will finally receive rightful recognition and their place in America's history."

For those who could not attend the event in person, a full recording of the event can be found at Speaker Johnson's YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakerJohnson/streams.

Suozzi's remarks as prepared for delivery can be found below:

Let me first start by thanking Speaker Johnson for scheduling this here today. Let's give him a big thank you.

It's never too late to do the right thing!

So the first thing I want to do is give a big thank you and let's hear it for the families of the Harlem Hellfighters that are with us today. Stand up Harlem Hellfighter families. Stand up and be recognized.

Today, we honor the legacy of your fathers and grandfathers and great-grandfathers who served our nation under extreme circumstances and despite intense discrimination we are all better for their service. I am so grateful to Deb Willet Family for bringing this to my attention. To the North Shore Historical Museum for their research and advocacy. Thank you especially, Congressman Adrianno Espaillat, who represents Harlem and Congresswoman Beatty who was the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus in 2021, and to all 311 of my colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats in the House who cosponsored this legislation and to Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer who carried it in the Senate. Also, a special thank you to Cindy Rogers, Sydney Harvey, Dr .Richard Harris, and Col. Krewasky Salter. Let's give them all a big thank you.

In 2019 the Willett family from Glen Cove, my hometown, told me about their grandfather, Sergeant Leander Willett, who served bravely with the Harlem Hellfighters in World War I. Sgt. Willett was stabbed with a bayonet. He was attacked with mustard gas. And yet, despite his sacrifice, he never received a Purple Heart. He died long before we could properly honor him.

In 2019, I had the great privilege of presenting Sgt. Willett's daughter, Clara, with her father's long-overdue Purple Heart. It was of course very moving.

But Sgt. Willett was far from the only soldier with that experience. In fact, over 40 Harlem Hellfighters were from my hometown, from the city of Glen Cove or the surrounding area. And over 2,500 Harlem Hellfighters served over the course of World War 1.

With the help of Congressman Espaillat, Congresswoman Beatty, Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer, we did the research, got the cosponsors and had this Gold Medal, signed into law by President Biden in 2021.

When I returned to Congress in early 2024, after a brief hiatus, one of the first things I did was write to Speaker Johnson, seek him out on the floor several times, and ask him to schedule this ceremony.

And finally, we are here today to say with one voice to the Harlem Hellfighters', thank you. You will never be forgotten.

The Harlem Hellfighters gave everything for America. Today, America tries to give back. This medal will stand for them, their families, their descendants, and for every American who believes in courage, sacrifice, and service.

It's never too late to do the right thing.

To the Harlem Hellfighters and their families: Congratulations, and thank you.

For further background on the Hellfighters, the Congressional Gold Medal, and how this Medal came to be, please see below.

On the Harlem Hellfighters:
The Harlem Hellfighters were an African American infantry regiment in WWI that spent 191 days in combat, more than any other American regiment. In 1918, the U.S. Army decided to assign the Hellfighters to the French Army for the duration of American participation in World War I because many white American soldiers refused to perform combat duty with African Americans. The U.S. Army refused to issue the regiment weapons. They were instead issued French weapons, helmets, belts, and pouches, although they continued to wear their U.S. uniforms.

Nicknamed "Hommes de Bronze" (Men of Bronze) by the French and "Hollenkampfer" (Hellfighters) by the Germans due to their tenacity, the Hellfighters were the first unit of the French, British, or American armies to reach the Rhine River at the end of the war. The unit earned 11 French citations and a unit Croix de Guerre and 170 soldiers were awarded the French Croix de Guerre.

Despite the courage, sacrifice, and dedication proudly displayed by the Harlem Hellfighters to their country, they returned home to face racism and segregation from their fellow countrymen.

On Congressman Suozzi's work with the Willett Family:

In 2019, Suozzi was approached by the Glen Cove Willett family (represented today by Debra Willett) for help obtaining a Purple Heart for Harlem Hellfighter Sgt. Leander Willett. After initially being declined for lack of documentation, Suozzi and his office persevered and were able to secure the necessary documentation through the National Personnel Records Center. In November of 2019, at a ceremony at Glen Cove's North Shore Historical Museum, Suozzi surprised the Willett family by presenting a posthumous Purple Heart to Harlem Hellfighter Sgt. Leander Willett "for wounds received as a result of hostile actions" in France on October 4, 1918.

On the Congressional Gold Medal:

The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress, to honor those, individually or as a group, "who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient's field, long after the achievement." The practice of issuing gold medals to honor recipients from the military began during the American Revolution.

The Congressional Gold Medal will be designed and struck by the United States Mint and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution and at events associated with the Harlem Hellfighters. Bronze versions of the medals are struck for sale by the U.S. Mint, and may be available in both larger and smaller sizes.

There have been only two other Congressional Gold Medals awarded to distinguished African American military groups: the Tuskegee Airmen in 2007 and the Montfort Point Marines in 2011, both from World War II.

On the Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal:

Suozzi passed the Harlem Hellfighters Gold Medal Act in the 117^th Congress. Lead co-sponsors on the bill include Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) of Harlem, who represents the home district of many of the Hellfighters, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), the then-chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. The Senate counterpart was led by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY). President Biden signed the bill into law on August 25^th, 2021, officially awarding the Harlem Hellfighters a long-overdue Congressional Gold Medal.

On May 8, 2024 and again on March 6, 2025, Suozzi wrote to Speaker Johnson requesting that the Speaker schedule today's ceremony.

The Harlem Hellfighters' Congressional Gold Medal represents only the 179th ever awarded to institutions, people, or events, since the American Revolution.