Harold James Sargent

A 1914 Antigo High School graduate, Harold Sargent attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and joined the Cadet Corps. In August 1917, he was one of the 4,000 selected for the Second Officers Training Camp at Fort Sheridan. In November 1917, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant Harold J. Sargent and, in January 1918, was sent to France. Upon arrival, he attended the Infantry Specialists' School at Langres. After the four-week course, he was appointed a gas warfare instructor. In April and May, he trained the 305th Infantry Regiment of the Seventy-seventh Division. In May and June, he trained the 119th Infantry Regiment of the 30th Division.

In July, Lieutenant Sargent was reassigned as a replacement combat officer to Company L of the 369th Infantry Regiment. The New York National Guard 15th Infantry Regiment, a Colored National Guard unit, was renumbered as the 369th upon arrival in France. The 369th was assigned to the French Fourth Army. By July, the 369th had been in combat for two months, suffered many combat losses, and already gained a fierce reputation.

On Sept. 26, the Third Battalion of the 369th moved forward for the Battle of the Meuse-Argonne capturing Ripont. At the La Dormoise River the Battalion Adjutant was mortally wounded, and Lieutenant Sargent became Adjutant and a Company M Platoon Commander.

On the third day of battle, as one of the remaining Third Battalion officers, 2nd Lieutenant Harold James Sargent was killed while leading an attack on a German machine gun emplacement. He was awarded a posthumous French Croix de Guerre for bravery. He was the only Wisconsin native to serve with the “Harlem Hellfighters”.