Frank E Spencer

Frank Spencer born in Brooklyn, Kings County, NY, on November 26 1891 to Frank A Spencer, age 29, coachman, and Martha S Spencer.

Frank Spencer in the New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Birth Index, 1878-1909, Ancestry.com; Frank A. Spencer in the New York, New York, U.S., Index to Birth Certificates, 1866-1909, Ancestry.com

Frank Ellsworth Spencer enlisted on June 30, 1916 at the age of 23 in Co A 15th Infantry (became part of the 369th Infantry.  

Frank Ellsworth Spencer in the New York, U.S., New York Guard Service Cards, 1906-1918, 1940-1948, Ancestry.com

“Excerpts from several letters to a friend in Ithaca by Sergeant Frank Spencer, in France with the 369th Infantry, a colored regiment. Sergeant Spencer is the only child of Frank Spencer, caretaker of the veterinary college. He lived in New York City for the past seven years and enlisted at the outbreak of the war. He is in the same company with Henry Johnson and Private Roberts, cited for the war cross for bravery. The letters: 

Just a line to let you know that I am still in good health, and in the trenches, for the last two weeks, it has been very busy for us, chasing the "Boche" back, and I have gotten used to the incessant roar of the big guns, and now I go to sleep, peacefully when I hear them "checking up (as we call it) but when they are silent, we feel uncomfortable and wonder why they ceased pounding the "Boche." 

The weather has been beautiful of late, sunny and warm, all day long. The items are ripe with crops, and it looks something like America, and we all sit in front of our dugouts and chat about home, etc., until a shell comes whistling overhead. Us for dugout then, and we don't lose any time, either, as the world may be beautiful outside, but it is healthier inside, when shells get to flying our way. The aeroplanes are very active these days, and it is lots of fun to watch a flight, and a chap to be aviator, has got to have good common sense, lots of nerve, and be a real I man, to fight many thousand feet in the air certainly requires everything 'that science can produce. I have seen as many as 25 aeroplanes in one bunch going over, to give the "Boche" a call.

No, we haven't any nurses with us, in fact the only persons, with us are Y. M. C. A. men; boys would go wild to see a real colored American, women, for it has been six months, since we have seen our color. We get tobacco every week regular, and that is relieving the scarcity, promptly. Food is up-to-date, plenty of it, and of the best, at that. Hoping that this letter finds you in the best of health. and happy, it leaves me so. my regards and best wishes to all, I remain. Sincerely, FRANK. 

Frank E. Spencer, Co. A, (M. G. Co.) 369th U. S. Inf., Secteur Postal No. 54, France. 

The weather here is great, just right for aeroplane activities, and we see plenty of them, and you should see the "Boche" get chased, he tries to come over before breakfast, but that doesn't do him any good, for the French and Allies are always on the alert, and the "Boche" has got to go some before he can get the jump. I suppose you have read all about our two boys, Johnson and Roberts, who had a dispute with "24 Boches." They certainly fought well, and deserve all honors that could be given them. 

Dear Friend: 

A card to let you know that all is well "over here," and I am in first class health, enjoying real summer weather, some days I miss a couple hours of it, by staying in my little dugout, then I stay in, only when it is healthier in it. than out. Things are quite different now, than they were when my last letter was written, very lively and exciting now, mixed with plenty of action. 

If you see Dad tell him I am "O.K." and some day soon, he will see where the "fighting 15th" has done some work. Best wishes and regards, hoping this will find you as well as it leaves me, I remain. Sincerely, FRANK. "

"Sergeant Spencer Busy Chasing the Boche Back," Ithaca Journal, September 6, 1918. 6.

“Sergeant Frank Spencer Fought in Champagne and Argonne With 369th Regiment --Piece of Shrapnel in Ankle Sent Him to Hospital. 

Regimental Sergeant Frank E. Spencer, jr., of the famous 369th Regiment, colored, which saw 14 months' service in France, was honorably discharged from the service on March 1 and is visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Spencer of 19 East avenue. He was wounded in the Champagne sector and saw service also in the Argonne and Vosges. 

"We left New York on December 3, 1917," said Sergeant Spencer this morning, "without any particular training except what we got from guarding bridges, etc., around New York. We got about all our training in France at Brest and St. Lazare, and then went to the Argonne front on April 1, 1918." 

"That was before the woods had been all blown to pieces and the country was hilly with dense forests, and was supposed to be a quiet sector. The boys even shot foxes and wild boars from time to time.

"On July 14 we were transferred to the Champagne where a German offensive was in progress, and were called upon to play a defensive game with quite a lot of hand to hand fighting and continual artillery bombardment from the Germans." 

When asked about the Germans that were encountered in that sector he said that they all looked like young boys, and that some had only been in the army a few days and were mighty glad to be captured. 

On the 27th of September, still in the Champagne, Sergeant Spencer was wounded in the ankle. He described the attack as follows: "Our barrage began at 11 o'clock at night and continued until 5:30 o'clock in the morning. Then we went over the top, and by 10 o'clock had taken all the first lines from the enemy who were on the run, and the fighting was mostly skirmishes and clearing out machine gun nests which were located by our airplanes and then blown up by the French 77s. 

"I don't know exactly how I got wounded. We had just taken a little village called Repont, a former French town that bad been converted into a German divisional headquarters, when something burst over my head and I was hit in the ankle with a piece of the flying shrapnel. The wound would have been all right if it hadn't become infected with gas. I suppose our clothes were all saturated with the gas for they used it a lot in that sector, sending over six pounds in each shell.

"I walked back to a dressing station, and the next day was sent on to an evacuation station and then to a Red Cross hospital in Paris, an American hospital it was and they treated us fine." 

After a month in hospital Sergeant Spencer returned to the front with his battalion, this time in the Vosges Mountains in Alsace-Lorraine, where he said the trenches were remarkably dry because the water was drained off through the rocks. It was, he said, a dreary place, quite unlike the Argonne when he saw it, for the trees were all blown down and tangled up with barb wire, and the trenches were built mainly of rocks. 

The 369th was the first complete regiment to reach the Rhine after the armistice was signed, and stayed there three weeks until they were relieved by the Army of Occupation. The regiment was attached to the French 161st Division of the Fourth Army Corps, and Sergeant Spencer wears the device of the French division, a black rattler on his left shoulder. He is also wearing a wound stripe and two service stripes.

Henry Johnson of Albany, who has four Germans killed and 20 wounded to his credit belonged to the same battalion, Sergeant Spencer said."

"Ithacan with Crack Unit of Negro Troops," Ithaca Journal, March 5, 1919, 6.

Frank E Spencer enlisted June 30, 1916 at the age of 23. At the time of enlistment he lived at 526 W 139 St in NY, NY
Spencer served in Co. A 15 Infantry NY which became Co A 369th Infantry.
Spencer served overseas from December 12, 1917 to February 12, 1919 and was "severely" wounded in action on September 28, 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne offensive.

Frank E Spencer, New York, U.S., Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919, Ancestry.com

Frank Spencer was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross due to his service in WWI as Sgt in Machine Gun Company A, 369th Infantry.

Frank E Spencer, New York, U.S., Record of Award Medal, 1920-1991, Ancestry.com.

"Frank E. Spencer, a former Ithaca boy, who was one of the outstanding colored heroes of the World War, has been visiting his father, Frank A. Spencer of this city, for a few days. To. show his relatives and friends just what he accomplished during the war, young Spencer, who was a sergeant major in the 369th Infantry, commanded by Colonel William Hayward, wore his uniform while in Ithaca.

On it were the following medals awarded young Spencer for gallantry and service: the Croix de Guerre, Conspicuous Service Cross, French campaign medal. French wound medal. Victory medal with bars for four major engagements. New York State Victory medal and the Jersey state medal. Spencer particularly distinguished himself for bravery in the Argonne and Meuse engagements. He is a son of Frank A. Spencer, a well known employe of the Cornell Veterinary College, and now resides in New York City."

"Colored Hero of War Visits Father Here," Ithaca Journal, February 7, 1922, 5. 

“Sergeant Spencer was one of the first men to enlist in the 369th Infantry when it was being reorganized as the ‘Old 15thRegiment.’ This first enlistment was one June 29, 1916. His seventh enlistment period began June 2, 1926. He is the first member of the regiment to be given a medal for 10 years’ service. Several other members expect to get similar awards in the near future.

Sergeant Spencer is a native of Ithaca, N.Y. and during his service with the 369th Infantry has received no less than 15 medals and awards.

His awards and medals include the following: U.S. Victory Medal and four battle clasps; Croix de Guerre (French); Commemorative medal (French); French wound bar; Conspicuous Service Cross, with citation star; New York State war medal; New Jersey State war medal; Tompkins County, N.Y. war medal; New York State Guard medal; 10 years’ meritorious service medal; New York State recruiting medal; sharpshooter medals for pistol, rifle and machine gun, and regimental watch and fob for recruiting.”

"Spencer, War Hero, Ithaca, Awarded His 16th Medal," Ithaca Journal, December 22, 1926, 3.

“‘The Association des Aucieus Combattants de Verdun’, an organization composed of officials and prominent citizens of the City of Verdun, France, noted for its historic resistance to the German advance during the world war, has notified Lieut. Frank E. Spencer, formerly of the 369th Infantry (Old Fifteenth N.Y. Regiment) that his name has been entered in the ‘Book of Gold” of the City of Verdun.

This ‘Book of Gold’ will eventually contain the names of all the war heroes who participated in the defense of Verdun. Lieutenant Spencer is one of the few of the allied soldiers to have his name so far and is the only American Negro so honored. He was presented with a diploma and the Medaille de Verdun.

Lieutenane [sic.] Spencer was one of the first men to enlist in the famous 15th Regiment and upon his retirement in 1927 had served 12 and a half years. He served overseas as a sergeant and was the sergeant major for several years after the regiment has returned home. When he retired he was promoted to second lieutenant and placed on the U.S. Army Reserve Corp….

In an interview with a representative of The Age, Lieutenant Spencer modestly declared that his name happened to be the first colored on the list of American war heroes whose names would eventually be inscribed in ‘The Book of Gold.’ He said that all the winners of the Croix de Guerre would have their names in this famous book and that there were 117 wearers of this decoration in the 369th Infantry. However Col. William Hayward, wartime commander, and Lieut. Col. McClinton are the only other members of the Regiment who can boast the honor that has come to Lieutenant Spencer.

The colored war hero is a native of Ithaca, N.Y., and is now a clerk in the Foreign Branch of the U.S. Postal Service in New York.”

"Lieut Frank Spencer, Who Served As Sergeant-Major of the Old 15th of New York, Honored By Verdum Body," The New York Age, October 27, 1928, 1.

"Born in Brooklyn 64 years ago, Mr. Spencer was taken to Ithaca when he was one and lived there until he was 16. He returned to New York that year and completed high school there.... He was the second man to volunteer for service with the 369th Regiment of the New York National Guard after the United States' entry into World War I. He was wounded in France."

Obituary of Frank E. Spencer, The Montclair Times (Montclair, NJ), June 21, 1956, 6. 

From 1945-1952, Frank L. Johnson "organized and sponsored the Frank Spencer Drum and Bugle Corps which has appeared in Ithaca parades..."  

"F.L. Johnson, Negro Civic Leader, Dies," Ithaca Journal, February 4, 1948, 5.