Blanche Bonner and Soldier - El Paso, Texas circa 1915

Blanche Bonner and a soldier are posing for the camera. During World War I, about 370,000 African Americans entered the service in 1917, when the United States joined the conflict. More than half of the blacks fought with the French in the worst battles of the war. 107 soldiers received one of the highest French awards, the Croix de Guerre, from the French government.

Area: Central / South Central

Source: C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections, University of Texas at El Paso Library. Collection Name: Leona Washington Photograph Collection. Photo ID: PH033-1-14-2.jpg.

Uploaded by: UTEP Library Special Collections