Henry Johnson, Harlem Hellfighter Who Earned the Medal of Honor

Dec 10 , 2025

Henry Johnson, Harlem Hellfighter Who Earned the Medal of Honor

Gunfire lit the night like hell’s own fireworks. Through the fog, a shadow moved—alone, relentless, unbroken. Sgt. Henry Johnson stood between a brutal German raiding party and his shattered unit. Wounded, bleeding, but unyielding. His fierce defiance bought precious time. Lives saved. Darkness held at bay by one man’s iron will.

From Upstate Roots to Trenches of France

Born in 1892 in Albany, New York, Henry Johnson’s early life was shaped by hard work and quiet determination. A bricklayer by trade, he carried the grit of the working man. When the U.S. entered the Great War, Henry answered the call—joining the all-black 369th Infantry Regiment, later famed as the Harlem Hellfighters.

Faith was his anchor. Baptized in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Johnson’s sense of right and wrong ran deep. He carried a Bible in his pocket, reading scriptures like Psalm 23 to steel his nerves. The war tested every fiber of his spirit—yet his mindset remained clear: fight fiercely and protect your brothers.

Hell Unleashed on the Champagne Front

On the night of May 15, 1918, under the cover of darkness near the Bois de Belleau, Johnson’s unit came under sudden German assault. Outnumbered and caught off guard, the soldiers fell back. But Johnson stayed forward.

Reports state he single-handedly fought off a large raiding party. Armed with just a rifle, grenades, and a bolo knife, he tore through the enemy lines. Shot multiple times, stabbed repeatedly, his wounds ran deep—his left arm nearly severed. Yet he pressed on, dispatching more than a dozen attackers.

In the chaos, Johnson carried a wounded comrade to safety, refusing to abandon anyone. His brutal fight was a bulwark against annihilation—a one-man wall holding the darkness back at enormous personal cost.

Honoring the Warrior’s Bloodied Valor

Yet recognition was slow. The racist currents of the time obscured the full truth of his bravery. Johnson received the Croix de Guerre from France for his valor—the first African American during WWI to do so—but American honors were delayed for decades.

It wasn’t until 2015—97 years later—that he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama. The citation praised his unyielding courage:

“During the night of 15 May 1918, Sergeant Henry Johnson distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism... He fought off a German raiding party single-handedly, though severely wounded, and saved the life of a comrade.*” — 2015 Medal of Honor Citation, U.S. Army^[1: U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor: Henry Johnson”]

His comrades remembered him not just for toughness, but for his unbreakable spirit. Harlem Hellfighters’ historian Chappie James dubbed him “the fightingest soldier to come out of WWI.”

A Legacy Written in Blood and Honor

Henry Johnson’s story is not just a tale of combat—it’s a testament to resilience in the face of brutality, to dignity under the shadow of prejudice, to faith that carries through the darkest nights.

His scars tell the truth: heroism isn’t about glory—it’s about sacrifice. It’s about standing your ground when the world wants you to fall. His life reminds us all of Paul’s words—“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Today, Sgt. Henry Johnson’s name is etched into the annals of valor. He carries the legacy of every soldier who wore the uniform, fought with honor, and demanded recognition beyond skin color.

His fight wasn’t just about a single night in the trenches. It was about pushing back against every injustice, every doubt. His life is a call—keep fighting, keep faith, and never let the darkness win.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor: Henry Johnson” 2. PBS, “Henry Johnson and the Harlem Hellfighters” 3. Harlem Hellfighters: The African American Experience in WWI, The Smithsonian Institution Press 4. Barack Obama, Medal of Honor Presentation Speech to Henry Johnson Family, 2015