US Army Private David Hymes was born in Pensacola, Florida on March 21, 1897, the son of Green (1860-1938) and Nettie Hymes (1864). Green and Nettie were married in 1880 and moved to Santa Rosa County prior to 1885. By 1900, the family had relocated to Pensacola. They first appeared in the city directories as early as 1900 with the family living at 1021 North "C" Street and in 1910 Green was a "bayman." In 1911, Nettie is listed as a widow and living at the same address along with David and Joseph, both laborers and Mamie, a nurse. Although listed a widow, Green appears in the 1919 directory as a chauffer, which may indicate that Green was a second husband. Green is also listed as having died in 1938 and buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Pensacola. Later listings have only Nettie and Richard living there until 1938.
Regardless of the conflict, David enlisted in the US Army in World War I and was sent to basic training. Upon completion he was assigned as a private to supply Company "A" of the 370th Infantry Regiment of the 93rd Infantry Division. This regiment was originally the 8th Illinois Infantry that was redesignated the 370th on August 3, 1917. It was assigned to the 185th Infantry Brigade of the African American 93rd Division in the midst of a segregated American army. It had the unique distinction of being the only black division to be used for actual combat while the 370th Regiment was the only regiment that was entirely commanded by black officers rather than white. But the Army needed fighting soldiers at the front so General John Pershing left the 93rd Division a combat unit but transferred them to the French Army who also were short of men. This left the 92nd Infantry Division the only other remaining all-black division which Pershing sent to the rear for manual labor duty.
While these machinations were going on, the 370th Regiment set sail for France on May 14, 1918, aboard the SS Montpelier. David had been assigned as one of the regiment's wagoner's whose duties was to keep his horse/mule team, harnesses, and wagon in good working order. The front lines were nothing but a quagmire of mud that could swallow a mule or a man alike. The motor vehicles were constantly sinking past their axles in the ooze, but the wagons could still move. Upon arrival, Pershing sent the 93rd to serve with the French 34th, 36th, and 59th divisions and would earn the nickname "Black Devils" from the German in the fierce fighting in the Argonne. In fact, the "Victory Monument" in Chicago, Illinois was built to honor the regiment's accomplishments (originally the 8th Illinois).
As the negotiations for peace continued, General Pershing voiced his disapproval for anything short of an unconditional surrender. However, regardless of his opinion the Allies agreed to a cessation of hostility to begin on November 11, 1918, at 11:00 AM forever known as "Veterans Day." But Pershing failed to instruct his commanders to suspend the fighting, which inadvertently allowed combat to extend past November 11th. On the 11th alone, there were 11,000 casualties of which 3,500 were Americans. One of these casualties was Private David Hymes from Pensacola, Florida who was killed in action on November 3, 1918.
While David was being buried in the Olise-Aisne Cemetery in France his mother was being notified at her home at 1021 North "C" Street of her son's death overseas. Eleven years after his death, America authorized what became known as the "Mother's Pilgrimage" that sent the mothers of fallen soldiers to Europe to visit the graves of their sons. This pilgrimage was offered to any "mother or unremarried widow" of any fallen serviceman. From 1930 to 1933, over 6,600 hundred mothers made the journey. Sadly, the mothers of these heroes were segregated by race, which in turn caused controversy within the groups. Some protested over the racial discrimination and refused to go at all, but 168 African American women still chose to make the trip. Of the two Escambia County mothers, Nettie Hymes chose to not make the trip. The second was Mrs. Emma Miller of Century, Florida, the mother of Private Charles C. Miller of Company "A" of the 338th Labor Battalion. She chose to make the trip in 1930 to see her son at Oise-Aisne Cemetery.








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