93rd Infantry Division (United States)

The 93rd Infantry Division was a segregated African American division of the United States Army that served in both World War I and World War II. During World War I, it was constituted in the National Army in 1917 and was composed of National Guard units from various states. Because the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) did not typically integrate African American soldiers into white combat units, the 93rd was assigned to the French Army. As such, the division adopted French helmets and equipment and served under French command. It was nicknamed the "Blue Helmets" (Casques Bleus) by the French, after the color of their headgear. The division's four infantry regiments—the 369th, 370th, 371st, and 372nd—all earned unit citations from the French government, including the Croix de Guerre. Many individual soldiers also received decorations for valor.

During World War II, the 93rd Infantry Division was reactivated in 1942 and deployed to the Pacific Theater. This time, the division was under American command. It participated in operations in the Solomon Islands, including Bougainville and New Georgia. While not involved in large-scale battles, the division engaged in extensive jungle warfare, securing strategic locations and combating Japanese forces. The 93rd was deactivated in 1946 following the end of World War II. Its legacy remains significant as a representation of the service and sacrifice of African American soldiers in a time of racial segregation.