Timeline: 1918
September 17: William Frank Earnest became the first African American in the county to be killed in action in France. Earnest was a 1915 graduate of Homer High School, the son of Oliver Frank and Hester C. Earnest of Homer. A University of Illinois student athlete, his family moved to Champaign because he was not allowed to live on campus. He studied agriculture. As a student, he entered the Danville Co. of the 8th Illinois Regiment, which later became part of the all-Black 370th Infantry 93rd Division where he served as a sergeant. The 370th trained and fought with the French military. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Bethel A.M.E. Church. He is buried in the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery in France.
October 18: Cecil Dewey Nelson was a sergeant in the all-Black 370th Infantry Regiment, who fought with the French army. On this date, Sergeant Nelson was awarded the French Croix de Guerre by French General Vincendon for bravery under fire. Nelson was the son of Joseph Franklin Nelson and Estelle (Anderson) Nelson and born and raised in Champaign-Urbana. He won several decorations for his World War I service and the News-Gazette stated at the time that he was the most decorated soldier in Champaign County. He returned to live his life in Champaign, IL, where he remained an active community member and one of the founders of the William F. Earnest American Legion Post 559.
