Harlem Hellfighter Sergeant Henry Johnson's 1918 bravery

Jan 17 , 2026

Harlem Hellfighter Sergeant Henry Johnson's 1918 bravery

Sgt. Henry Johnson stood alone in the dark French woods. The night was cold, the air thick with the stench of mud and fear. A dozen German soldiers closed in, rifles ready, to slaughter the men he’d sworn to protect. Henry didn’t flinch. Blood slick on his hands, wounds burning deep. He fought with the fury of a man possessed by duty and faith. No retreat. No surrender. Just survival—and salvation for his squad.

The Roots of a Warrior

Born in Albany, New York, 1892, Henry Johnson grew up under the shadow of segregation and hardship. A child of rural poverty but immense strength, he learned early that courage meant standing tall when the world tried to push you down. His faith—quiet but unshakeable—was a lifeline. He carried with him a verse:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” —Joshua 1:9

Johnson enlisted in 1917, joining the 369th Infantry Regiment, the famed Harlem Hellfighters. Fierce, disciplined, but always aware of the prejudice that tagged along. Yet, his honor was forged not in comfort, but in combat’s hellfire—where brotherhood transcended color lines on the battlefield.

The Battle That Defined Him

On the night of May 14, 1918, near the village of Charlevaux in France, Johnson was on sentry duty. What began as whispers on the wind turned into an all-out German raiding party, targeting the American trenches. Johnson, alongside Private Needham Roberts, faced an enemy force that outnumbered them by several men.

Despite a shattered arm and 21 wounds—bayonet stabs, bullet grazes, brutal hand-to-hand combat—Johnson fought nonstop for hours. When Roberts was knocked unconscious, Johnson dragged him to safety. Then launched back into the fray alone.

He used grenades, his rifle, and a bolo knife to disarm and kill. His hands turning crimson with blood—not just his own, but the enemy’s. Johnson’s tenacity broke the German attack, saving his unit from slaughter.

His actions slowed the raid long enough for reinforcements to arrive. When dawn broke, the battlefield was littered with bodies; Johnson was still breathing, though barely. This fight was a baptism by fire that sealed his place in American military history.

A Warrior Recognized

For decades, Henry Johnson’s heroism went largely unrecognized in the United States. Jim Crow-era racism dimmed the light on his sacrifice. But in 1918, France awarded him the Croix de Guerre with a special citation for valor—the first American to receive that honor in WWI.

It wasn’t until 2015 that the U.S. finally awarded Johnson the Medal of Honor, posthumously acknowledging his bravery. The citation reads:

“Sgt. Johnson exhibited extraordinary valor and fierce determination in 1918, fighting off a superior German raiding party and saving his comrades despite severe wounds.”

His fellow soldiers remembered him as a man who “would fight anybody, anytime, anywhere.” Commanders lauded his grit under fire and unyielding spirit.

Legacy in Blood and Faith

Henry Johnson’s story carries a harsh truth: valor knows no color, but recognition often bends to prejudice. His scars—both physical and societal—speak to battles far beyond the trenches. They tell of a man who bore his wounds with quiet dignity and deep faith.

Today, veterans draw strength from Johnson’s example—that true courage rides the edge of endurance, sacrifice, and a higher calling. His fight was not only for land and country but for dignity and justice.

As it is written:

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” —John 15:13

Henry Johnson’s blood stained the soil of France. His legacy stains us now—not with shame, but with the unbreakable will to fight on, honor the fallen, and find redemption in sacrifice.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: World War I” 2. Harlem Hellfighters Legacy Project, “Henry Johnson and the 369th Infantry” 3. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, “Sgt. Henry Johnson, Medal of Honor Citation” 4. French Ministry of Defense Archives, Croix de Guerre Award Records