Victory Monument, World War I Black
Soldiers’ Memorial, 1927,
1936
Leonard Crunelle
East 35th
Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
When the United States entered World War I in April 1917,
the Army had a policy of racial segregation and African-American soldiers were
required to serve in all-black regiments, typically under the command of white
officers. The National Guard also had separate African-American units and,
during the Great War, they were called up. Although the United States had no intention
of using the black soldiers in combat, when French allies were in need of
manpower they were happy to use them. This monument honors the 370th
infantry of the 93rd Division, one of the units that assisted the
French and included soldiers from Illinois. This group had the distinction of
being the last regiment pursuing the retreating German forces in the
Aisne-Marne region before the armistice on November 11, 1918.
The sculptor, Leonard Crunelle, was well known in
Chicago, having served as assistant to Lorado Taft and contributed the Fountain Figures and monument to Richard Oglesby to the city’s public art
during the 1910s.
On an interesting note, he was born in the town of Lens, France, which fell under German control during the Great War. At the unveiling on Armistice Day in 1928, the monument consisted only of the white granite column with relief panels. The striding “doughboy,” also created by Crunelle, was added in 1936.
On an interesting note, he was born in the town of Lens, France, which fell under German control during the Great War. At the unveiling on Armistice Day in 1928, the monument consisted only of the white granite column with relief panels. The striding “doughboy,” also created by Crunelle, was added in 1936.
One of the four bronze panels provides an honor roll of
the dead, while the other three features figures: one is a bare-chested
African-American soldier standing behind an eagle, the second is a
classically-draped African-American woman representing “motherhood,” and the
third features the allegorical figure “Columbia,” generally understood as the
personification of the United States before “Lady Liberty” became more popular.
“Columbia” holds a tablet listing the regiment’s battles.
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