369th Sustainment Brigade

The U.S. Department of War honors Harlem Hellfighter, Sgt. Henry Johnson, today.



53rd Troop Command 42d Infantry Division The National Guard U.S. Army

Unmatched lethality and absolute courage.

During World War I, Army Pvt. Henry Johnson of the legendary Harlem Hellfighters sustained 21 wounds while repelling an enemy raid in France.

Fighting hand-to-hand with a bolo knife, he defeated the enemy and saved a fellow soldier. We honor this Medal of Honor recipient and the relentless grit that defines the American fighting force.

Learn more: https://www.war.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/4487405/medal-of-honor-monday-army-pvt-henry-johnson/

From the training grounds of Pennsylvania to a legendary piece of American history, our New York Army National Guard culinary Soldiers are proving they are among the best in the nation.

Soldiers with Detachment 1, 1501st Field Feeding Company, 369th Division Special Troops Battalion, were recognized at the Military Foodservice Awards on May 15 after winning the Phase Two regional Philip A. Connelly competition in the U.S. Army National Guard Field Kitchen category.

During the rigorous evaluation at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, the 15-Soldier team excelled under the leadership of 1st Lt. Nevena Rakonjac and Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hopkins.

The regional victory earned the unit, commanded by Capt. David Martin, a trip to Chicago for advanced professional development hosted by the National Restaurant Association. To celebrate the achievement, the battalion command team, Lt. Col. David Myones and Command Sgt. Maj. Edgar Ponce, traveled to support the 1501st footprint at the historic Palmer House Hilton.

The venue itself provided a masterclass in hospitality history. The Palmer House has hosted nearly every U.S. president since Ulysses S. Grant, including a legendary 1879 welcome-back banquet where Mark Twain famously stood on a table at 2:00 a.m. to toast the general. It is also the official birthplace of the chocolate brownie, which was invented by the hotel's pastry chef in 1893 after Bertha Palmer requested a portable, box-lunch dessert for women attending the World's Columbian Exposition.

Congratulations to the Soldiers of the 1501st and their commander, Capt. David Martin, on this stellar win!

53rd Troop Command 42d Infantry Division The National Guard U.S. Army

TEAMWORK IN ACTION: NYNG Soldiers assist in Rio Grande rescue

On April 1, a suspected human smuggling pursuit near Laredo, Texas, took a life-threatening turn when a vehicle crashed and its occupants attempted to swim across the Rio Grande.

Spc. Alexa Aviles and Spc. Jahdaniel Garcia, with the 442nd Military Police Company, monitoring the sector for Joint Task Force-Southern Border, heard the radio traffic and saw the situation unfolding. Recognizing the danger of the river’s strong currents, they immediately grabbed emergency supplies from their vehicle.

"I saw them struggling in the current," said Garcia. "I immediately grabbed rope and flotation devices... and ran the supplies over to border patrol agents and state troopers."

Working alongside U.S. Border Patrol and Texas State Troopers, our Soldiers helped pull three individuals from the water. While the incident serves as a somber reminder of the hazards of illegal crossings and smuggling operations, we are incredibly proud of the professionalism and readiness of our Guard members.

To read their story please visit https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article-View/Article/4460196/guard-soldiers-help-rescue-three-from-rio-grande/

53rd Troop Command 42d Infantry Division The National Guard U.S. Army

"Write the date of graduation on your wall... you have to graduate."

The Second Annual Hellfighters Ball was a night defined by the pursuit of excellence and the honoring of a storied past. With over 350 service members, veterans, and families in attendance at the Harlem Regiment Armory, we gathered to celebrate the 369th Infantry Regiment’s enduring impact on American history.

Author Doug Melville provided a moving keynote on the "Invisible Generals," highlighting the career of Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Despite facing immense institutional obstacles, Davis maintained a focus on duty that eventually revolutionized American safety—leading to the creation of the Federal Air Marshal program and the TSA.

Lt. Col. David Myones, commander of the 369th Division Special Troops Battalion, emphasized the "second fight" for historical recognition, noting that the Congressional Gold Medal serves as a permanent validation of the Regiment’s record-breaking service. We were especially honored to be joined by the descendants of WWI leaders, whose families have preserved these vital records of service for over a century.

A sincere thank you to the 369th Veterans Association and our community partners for ensuring the Hellfighter legacy continues to inspire the next generation of leaders, the same way those “... you have to graduate,” were spoken from father to son.

To see more from the gala, please visit https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCMBwy and to read the story please visit https://dvidshub.net/r/fz5a1f

Excellence starts with the standard. 🇺🇸

On March 14-15, the 1501st Quartermaster Company took the field for the Phase Two evaluation of the Philip A. Connelly Awards Program. This program, a partnership between the Department of the Army and the National Restaurant Association, recognizes the best in military food service.

During the evaluation, the team demonstrated mastery of the Mobile Kitchen Trailer (MKT) and Field Feeding Sanitation Center, proving their readiness for upcoming large-scale operations.

Readiness NCO Sgt. 1st Class Lauren Rubino set a new standard for packet submissions. The officer and NCO in charge were 1st Lt. Nevena Rakonjac and Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Hopkins.

Congratulations to Capt. David Martin, 1st Sgt. Diana Jose-Garcia, and the entire 1501st team for their selection as national finalists, and their outstanding performance.

To see them at work please visit https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCNpXW

A Harlem Hellfighter, Spottswood “Spot” Poles, was among six citizen soldiers honored by The Nationals during an Arlington tribute, ahead of Major League Baseball’s Opening Day.

Poles, known for his batting average and speed, served in the 369th Infantry Regiment.

According to the official record, Poles earned five battle stars and a Purple Heart for his heroism.

For more on this story please visit

The Nationals honor baseball players turned citizen soldiers in Arlington tribute Arlington National Cemetery placed official MLB baseballs — courtesy of the Nationals — on the gravesites of six men, all former baseball players.

Did you know the 369th Infantry Regiment - the legendary Harlem Hellfighters - carried a symbol of defiance long before they reached the trenches of France?

During the Second Annual Hellfighters Ball, Feb. 27, 2026, New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. David Myones and keynote speaker Doug Melville reflected on the origins of the regiment’s identity.

When the unit was first organized as the 15th New York National Guard in 1913, they carried the flag of New York State with them and it’s motto Excelsior, which is Latin for Ever Upward.

After 191 days in action, with all the campaigns in the Defensive Sectors of France, the flag included those campaigns and the 16th Division to the French Army.

The Evolution:
1913: The 15th New York is formed in Harlem.
1918: Re-designated as the 369th Infantry Regiment upon arriving in France.
The Legacy: The spirit of a unit that spent 191 days in continuous combat—more than any other American unit in WWI.

As Doug Melville noted, "Whoever writes the story owns the story." By preserving the history of the original 15th Infantry flag, we ensure the courage of these soldiers is never "invisible" again.

Today, the 369th continues to carry that legacy forward, proving that their spirit is, and always has been, undaunted.



42d Infantry Division 53rd Troop Command The National Guard U.S. Army

A night of "permanent national validation." 🇺🇸

Last Friday, Feb. 27, the Harlem Regiment Armory hosted the 2nd Annual Hellfighters Ball. It was an honor to see more than 350 guests—including descendants of James Reese Europe and Col. Arthur Little—come together to celebrate the 369th Infantry Regiment.

Highlights of the evening included:
✅ Opening remarks from Lt. Col. David Myones on the "second fight" for recognition at home.
✅ Presentation of replicas of the Congressional Gold Medal to icons like Col. (Ret.) Stephanie Dawson and Col. (Ret.) Seth Morgulas.
✅ A moving keynote by Doug Melville, who shared the story of his great-uncles, the first Black generals in U.S. history, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. and Jr.

Myones noted that the current members of the 369th continue to embody the "Don't Tread On Me" spirit, from overseas deployments to civil support here in New York.

Thank you to all our sponsors, including the Harlem Hellfighters Association and the National Association of Black Military Women, for making this historic evening possible.

Huge thanks to Col. Bryon Linnehan and Command Sgt. Maj. Javier Lugo, command team of the brigade; Stephany Neal and the entire 369th Experience team band and their director, Anthony Jones; the Old Hillside Bourbon Company for their limited edition Harlem Hellfighters Whiskey Blend and the Whiskey Valor Foundation providing free Uber ride vouchers promoting safety and responsibility.

Enjoy a few highlights from the night, with a story to follow this week. 📸📸

NEW COMMANDER FOR NYNG’s FIRST FIELD FEEDING COMPANY

Yesterday, Capt. David Martin assumed command of the 1501st Quartermaster Company (Field Feeding), New York Army National Guard, from Capt. Jowayne Meadows, the company’s first ever commander.

The ceremony was conducted at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill, N.Y., Feb. 7, 2026.

Lt. Col. David Myones, the 369th Special Troops Battalion commander, was the presiding officer and said, “To Capt. Meadows, you were the first commander of this unit and you have set a standard of excellence that will be hard to match.”

In their first operational year, the 1501st served over 15,000 Soldiers, served 100,000 plates and saved the state 35% on feeding costs. This change of command marks the beginning of year three.

We would like to thank Meadows for his leadership and wish him well in his new duties as the 369th Division Sustainment Brigade’s primary staff human resources and administration officer.

Capt. Meadows said to the Soldiers with the 1501st, “Your dedication, your willingness to learn, and your unmatched work ethic are the reasons we succeed.”

We welcome Martin to his new role as commander and look forward to his leadership of the company.

Capt. Martin said, “While what lies ahead of us may be uncertain, I do know one thing for sure - we will be ready to accomplish our mission whenever, wherever. Let's roll!”

📸 by Sgt. Richelle Cruickshank
For more photos, please visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/nyng/albums/72177720331918408



The National Guard | 53rd Troop Command | 42d Infantry Division | U.S. Army