Robert Conway Allen was born in Springfield, OH in 1873. Little is known about his early life.

Allen was a member of the 9th Infantry Battalion of the Ohio National Guard, an all African American unit. When Ohio's Guard units were activated during WWI, the 9th Battalion joined with other segregated National Guard units from around the country, to form the 372nd Infantry. They were stationed in France and joined France's 157th "Red Hand" Division, so named for the red hand insignia on the shoulder of their uniforms.

Fighting on the western front, the 157th saw action in the Champagne-Marne campaign, and for their service, the unit was awarded the French Croix de Guerre. Lieutenant Robert C. Allen was one of only a few remaining black officers in the regiment. He also became the first African American to receive the Distinguished Service Cross. This is the second highest military decoration awarded to US Army soldiers, second only to the Medal of Honor. (Note that at that period in our history, African American soldiers were not eligible to receive the Medal of Honor, so the Distinguished Service Cross is the highest decoration that could be bestowed.)

Robert C. Allen died on May 23, 1961. He is is buried in the Word War I Veterans section of Ferncliff Cemetery.