A Soldier's Story: Private Needham Roberts



Private Needham Roberts was born on April 28, 1901, in Trenton, New Jersey.

He enlisted into the US Army and was assigned to the 369th Infantry, the "Harlem Hellfighters," and deployed to France for World War I.

On May 14, 1918, while on guard duty in Argonne Forest with Sergeant Henry Johnson, Private Needham Roberts assisted in fighting off a 24-man enemy patrol. Unfortunately, the attack left him severely wounded and permanently disabled.

After the war, Private Needham Roberts toured, giving lectures about his service and radio interviews during World War II to encourage Americans of African descent to enlist.

He died on April 18, 1949, and rests in Fairmount Cemetery in Newark, New Jersey.

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to her travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

Her online photography gallery can be found at shop.takethebackroads.com

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Location: Trenton, NJ, USA

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