Private Kenneth Lewis

The boy who died a hero, along with thousands of others. Just a private soldier was Kenneth Lewis, of the District of Columbia, but a clean, fine young man of only eighteen years ---- a volunteer in the First Separate Battalion. His Captain wrote to the bereaved mother, Mrs. Hettie B. Lewis: "I desire to express my sympathy to you in your hour of sacrifice. Kenneth Lewis was particularly near and dear to me, for he was my orderly in Camp Stuart, and on our voyage to France. I chose him as one of the twelve best men in my detachment of forty-six. He lived up to my expectations in every way and conducted himself as a good, clean man and a soldier. Though sorely wounded, he displayed true American grit to me and to his nurses in the hospital. In recognition of his devotion, courage and sacrifice, the French Army granted him the Médaille Militaire, a high honor. Not only as his Commanding Officer, but as his friend, permit me to extend my condolences in your sorrow and to assure you that he gave up his life like a man, for honor and his country."

With America's entry into the World War, advice came from Negro leadership to forget grievances and close ranks for the sake of democracy. In Washington this was enthusiastically heeded. The First Separate Battalion, the Negro National Guard unit, which had previously served on the Mexican border, was called upon to guard Washington. This battalion was the first in the District to be mustered out to war strength. Its commanding officer, Major James Walker, was the first District officer to die in the line of duty. When the 327 Regiment was formed, the First Separate Battalion was included. Overseas this regiment was brigaded with the "Red Hand" Division of the French Army. Of nearly 600 Washington Negroes in the outfit, more than 200 were wounded and 33 killed. One of the first to fall fatally wounded was Private Kenneth Lewis, a mere youngster, just out of the high school cadets corps.

The Crisis, vol. 17-18, 1918; A Son's Return: Selected Essays of Sterling A. Brown by Sterling Allen Brown