NY City Council Recognizes A Hero

Colonel Stephanie Dawson, commander of the National Guard’s Harlem “Hellfighters,” was recognized by the city council.

HELLFIGHTER DECORATED: Councilmembers Inez Dickens (L) and Melinda Katz (R) present Colonel Stephanie Dawson with a proclamation for her leadership of the Harlem “Hellfighters.” The Epoch Times

NEW YORK—The commander of the Harlem “Hellfighters” was recognized by the city council Tuesday. Colonel Stephanie Dawson is the current commander of the Harlem “Hellfighters” a National Guard unit with a prestigious past. Dawson is the first and only female commander of a National Guard brigade.

Council members Melinda Katz and Inez Dickens presented Dawson with a proclamation. “I’m so proud that you serve in command of the 369th Harlem Hellfighters,” said Dickens, “For it to be served by a woman of color, a strong woman of color, is a huge step for not only our city but our country.”

“At the end of the day, my commitment to my unit is that they will train while they serve and that they will be strong; Army strong” said Dawson.

Dawson took command of the 369th sustainment brigade in November this year, after serving as the deputy commander. Dawson was deployed to Iraq with the 27th Rear Operations Center in 2003/2004 and the 369th was one of the first units to deploy in operation “Iraqi Freedom”.

“The Hellfighters were an all black regiment that was part of a segregated U.S. Army in World War I, that were given to the French,” said Dawson, “As legend has it, they never gave up an inch of ground.” “The French and Germans called them the “Hellfighters” because of their resolve in battle. They are now a supply unit based at the Harlem armory.”

As executive officer for the 369th Corps Support Battalion during the unit’s 9-11 activation, she helped spearhead battalion relief, security, supply, transportation, and other logistics support missions for initial Ground Zero operations according to a press release.

 In civilian life Dawson is a certified Project Management Professional and works for the Chief Operating Officer for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey where she is Assistant Director of Operations. Dawson is also a life member of her local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and 369th Historical Society.

In the gritty WW I trench battles in France the unit won a regimental Croix de Guerre, an award for outstanding service, from a French Army that was more than happy to fight alongside them. 200 Croix de Guerre were awarded to individual soldiers. The unit sustained 1,500 casualties and won itself the respect of the German opponents and French allies. The 369th saw more frontline service than any other American unit in World War I.

The 369th was one of the first black units to be commanded by black officers. They were also the first all-black regiment allowed to march up Fifth Avenue upon their return to U.S. soil after the war.