Sgt. Clinton Peterson's "My Year in France" Online Resource

Sgt Clinton Peterson

This article originally appeared on the Putnam County website.

The Putnam County Historian’s Office has partnered with The Putnam County Courier to post a digital reference guide of Kent Cliffs native, Sgt. Clinton J. Peterson’s 1919 column, “My Year in France”.  It is a serialized record of Peterson’s experience as an African-American serving “191 days in the trenches” with the 369th U.S. Infantry Regiment, better known as the “Harlem Hell Fighters”, alongside the French during World War I.  His account was first published and heralded in the columns of The Courier over 100 years ago.

 “Making this resource available to the public is very important,” says Michael Bartolotti, Putnam County Clerk and Record Management Officer. “It is a terrific example of bringing Black History and service to our nation to light.  Sgt. Peterson’s detailed record of his service is the pride of Putnam and I’m pleased the Historian’s Office focused their efforts to get this done.”

 Records of Peterson’s service, along with his application for the Putnam County Honor Roll, can be found in the Putnam County Archives, located in Brewster, New York, under HC602, World War I Veterans Collection, 1918-1919. Read more...