Bronzeville in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Lt. George Giles
c. 1895-1920
| | Bronzeville Walk of Fame | |
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 14, 2025
1. Lt. George R. Giles Marker
The soldier being referenced is actually named George L. Giles, and he died in battle in 1918, not 1920.
Lt. George R. Giles
World War I hero
Erected 1996 by City of Chicago.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Bronzeville Walk of Fame series list.
Location. 41° 49.856′ N, 87° 37.029′ W. Memorial is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Bronzeville. It is at the intersection of South Martin Luther King Drive and 35th Street, in the median on South Martin Luther King Drive. The marker is embedded in the sidewalk just north of the Victory memorial to Black soldiers in World War I. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Chicago IL 60653, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Col. Franklin A. Denison (here, next to this marker); Truman Gibson Sr. / Truman Gibson Jr. (here, next to this marker); Mjr. Robert H. Lawrence, Jr. (a few steps from this marker); Victory, World War I Black Soldiers Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Earl Fatha Hines (within shouting distance of this marker); Supreme Life Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Bronzeville
this page online
More about this memorial. Roughly 100 Bronzeville Walk of Fame markers are found around the neighborhood. This is one of a handful located near Victory, the memorial to Black soldiers of World War I.
Regarding Lt. George Giles. This plaque has a couple of errors. The local soldier it references is Lt. George L. Giles (not George R.) a South Side native who died in battle in Grandlup-et-Fay on October 28, 1918 (not in 1920). According to a newspaper notice about his death, Giles attended Altgeld School on the city's south side. He joined the 8th Infantry Regiment, whose headquarters were about a block west of where this plaque is now, in 1916. In 1918, he was commissioned a second lieutenant. He died of shrapnel wounds during battle in France in October 1918. He is buried at Oise-Aisne American Cemetery in France; he is also listed on the nearby Victory monument to World War I (as George L. Giles).
Giles is the namesake for a few South Side landmarks: Giles Avenue, which runs north-south right through Bronzeville, and the George L. Giles
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 14, 2025
2. Bronzeville Walk of Fame markers in front of Victory, the memorial to Black soldiers of World War I
Also see . . . Giles Post 87 official site.
Excerpt: "The George L. Giles Post #87 was established in Chicago in 1919 as a place for Black veterans to become members of the American Legion. The post was named in memory of Lieutenant Giles, pictured in the photo, who was killed by shrapnel in WWI in 1918. The post carries on his and other veterans' legacy of service and patriotism. As part of the nation's largest wartime veterans service organization, the American Legion, the post advocates for veterans' rights and community engagement."(Submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Chicago Daily News collection, Chicago History Museum
3. Lt. George Giles and officers of the 370th Infantry, Camp Logan in Houston, Texas
Giles is one of the 10 officers of the 370th photographed while training at Camp Logan in Houston; it cannot be confirmed for certain which of the men he is. The caption from the Chicago History Museum: "Group portrait of African American officers, Lieutenant Michael Browning, Lieutenant George L. Giles, Lieutenant Swire J. Warner, Lieutenant Rufus B. Jackson, Lieutenant Hugh W. Schuck, Lieutenant George L. Tisdell, Lieutenant Avon H. Williams, Lieutenant John L. McDonald, Lieutenant Elisha C. Lane and Lieutenant Durand Harding, 370th infantry, posing for a photograph at Camp Logan in Houston, Texas. Text on image reads H-34."
Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 486 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on April 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
