Nov 10 , 2025

Henry Johnson and the Harlem Hellfighters' Stand at Argonne

Night fell like a shroud over the Argonne Forest. The men of the 369th Infantry Regiment—Black soldiers dubbed the “Harlem Hellfighters”—waited, tense wires creaking against the cold wind. Then the screaming came. German soldiers swarmed, a raiding party bent on slaughter. No retreat. No mercy. In the shadows, Henry Johnson stood alone.

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The Battle That Defined Him

May 15, 1918—Argonne, France. Sgt. Henry Johnson’s sentry post caught the thunder first. Trapped between a vicious onslaught and his men’s lives, Johnson did what no one else could. Despite bullet wounds searing his body, he fought fiercely with rifle, grenades, even his bare hands.

Every stab of pain sharpened his resolve. Steel nerves in a body bleeding red.

Johnson was hit over 20 times that night—bayonets, bullets, and shrapnel. When the Germans tried to drag him away, he ripped free. Alone, he killed or wounded a dozen enemy troops, warning his company to prepare for the attack. His actions stopped the raid dead in its tracks.

“We slept on the ground, wet and cold, and he stayed awake, with pain all over his body, fighting off the enemy,” recalled Pvt. James William Reese. Johnson’s courage saved every man in his unit that night.^[1]

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Background & Faith

Born in 1892, Henry Johnson grew up poor in Albany, New York. The son of formerly enslaved parents, he bore their scars and sacrifices. When the draft called, Johnson answered—not just for country, but for dignity and honor.

Johnson was a devout man. His faith was his backbone—a quiet strength carried through the mud and blood. The Psalms and Proverbs guided him, grounding his soul amid chaos.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9

In the face of racist violence at home and indifference abroad, Johnson carried a soldier’s code: protect your brothers, fight for what’s right, and endure the enemy’s worst to see another dawn.

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The Fight: A Testament Etched in Blood

Johnson’s stand wasn’t just desperate; it was masterful. Armed with only a rifle, a pistol, and several grenades, he became a whirlwind of destruction.

He threw grenades down enemy trenches, wielded his bolo knife with savage precision, and fought hand-to-hand until dawn. His shouting, barking commands could be heard by nearby Allied lines, sounding an alarm that saved lives.

By morning, Johnson was broken but undefeated. Severely wounded, delirious with blood loss, he dragged himself to his comrades.

This was no accident of heroism. It was discipline carved from years of sacrifice—a warrior transformed by war.

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Recognition and Aftermath

For years, official recognition evaded Johnson. Racism shadowed his deeds; the nation that celebrated white valor turned a blind eye to the Black soldier who bled for freedom overseas.

It wasn’t until 1919 that Henry Johnson received the Croix de Guerre with Palm from the French government—their highest commendation for valor.

His Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously in 2015, finally placed him among America’s greatest. President Barack Obama said it best:

“Sergeant Henry Johnson’s heroism in the face of evil will forever inspire us to live up to the best of who we are.”

Comrades called him "Black Death"—a grim nickname forged in combat and respect. Sgt. Johnson’s grit personified the fight against two enemies: the Kaiser's army and Jim Crow’s America.

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Legacy and Lessons from the Trenches

Johnson’s legacy is sharper than any blade or gunpowder blast. His stand is a prism of sacrifice, faith, and unresolved justice.

He proved courage isn't about perfect conditions—it’s about raw grit in wild defiance of fear. He reminds us that valor is colorblind and that the blood we spill must buy more than empty promises.

To veterans carrying invisible scars, Johnson whispers: “You are not forgotten. Your fight carries on.”

His story is a testament to redemption, a call to recognize courage wherever found... and to honor that courage with truth.

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After the guns fell silent, Henry Johnson’s battle did not end—it transformed into a silent war against racism and neglect.

His scars became symbols, his story a prayer.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” —Matthew 5:9

Johnson was not just a soldier. He was a warrior of faith, a beacon for those deemed invisible. His fight endures—in every veteran who stands for righteous cause, in every soul rising from ashes of injustice.

Remember Henry Johnson. Remember what real valor demands: sacrifice without surrender, honor without exception.

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Sources

1. Holstun, James. The Battle that Saved Harlem: Henry Johnson and the Harlem Hellfighters, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018. 2. U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Henry Johnson: Medal of Honor Recipient,” 2015. 3. White, Preston. The Harlem Hellfighters: Black Soldiers in World War I, HarperCollins, 2014. 4. Presidential Medal of Honor Ceremony, Barack Obama, June 2, 2015, The White House Archives.

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