Feb 12 , 2026

Henry Johnson, Harlem Hellfighter Who Earned the Medal of Honor

Blood on the snow. Gunfire crackling over the icy wire. A German raiding party swarmed through No Man’s Land, hell-bent on slaughter. Amid the chaos, one man stood alone, battered and bleeding, refusing to quit. Sgt. Henry Johnson, a Harlem Hellfighter, tore through that night like a storm forged in fire and fury.

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The Bloodline and the Cross

Born in 1892, Henry Johnson grew up in Albany, New York. A man molded by hardship and faith in a country that still slung segregation like a shrapnel wound. He carried a quiet dignity—a warrior bound by a code beyond orders. His religious conviction was a silent backbone. He believed the Almighty had a plan. The Bible’s words whispered in his heart.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” — Deuteronomy 31:6

Johnson enlisted in 1917. Drafted into the 15th New York National Guard Regiment, later known as the 369th Infantry Regiment—the infamous Harlem Hellfighters. Black men thrown headfirst into Europe’s Bloodbath, fighting not only the enemy but also the poison of racism back home and in the ranks.

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The Battle That Defined Him

On May 15, 1918, in the Argonne Forest of France, brutal darkness swirled around Johnson’s unit. A German raiding party launched a surprise attack on their outpost. Alone, with only a broken rifle and a bolo knife, Johnson fought like a man possessed.

He held the line against overwhelming odds.

Shrapnel tore through his arms and leg. Bullets ripped his flesh. Yet Johnson didn’t fall. He engaged in close-quarters combat—hand to hand, weapon to weapon—until the enemy retreated. He reportedly killed multiple German soldiers, saving his fellow soldiers from near-certain massacre.

One witness noted Johnson’s fortitude:

“He fought off the attack, protecting his position and his comrades, while wounded and outnumbered.”

His actions didn’t stop terror’s tide. They halted it. The 369th, his brothers in arms, survived.

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Recognition Forged in Valor

For decades, Sgt. Henry Johnson’s heroism remained buried beneath the haze of racial discrimination. The French government bestowed the Croix de Guerre with Palm in 1918, France’s highest military honor for valor[i].

Only in 2015 was he posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by the United States, correcting history’s blind spot[ii]. President Barack Obama declared:

“Henry Johnson’s story is a powerful reminder of the contributions African American soldiers made to our country.”

The citation reads:

“For extraordinary heroism and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.”

A warrior who faced two battles—the enemy abroad, and racism at home.

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Legacy Etched in Scars and Spirit

Johnson’s fight wasn’t just in the forest. It lasted decades—his body broken, his bravery denied recognition. He became a symbol of resilience, a testimony that courage knows no color.

In battle, no one cares about the color of your skin. Only the steel in your grip and the heart beneath the blood.

His story breathes life into the cost of freedom—the silent sacrifices made by men forgotten by their own country.

He teaches veterans and civilians alike: valor transcends prejudice. Faith sustains when flesh fails. Glory is not given, but earned in the crucible of sacrifice.

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Brothers and sisters: remember Sgt. Henry Johnson not just as a hero of the past but a call to the present. When the world throws its worst, stand tall. Fight. Survive. Redeem the story, one scar at a time.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7

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Sources

[i] Knox, Ray. Henry Johnson: Harlem Hellfighter and Medal of Honor recipient, National Archives.

[ii] White House Press Release, 2015: Medal of Honor Ceremony for Sgt. Henry Johnson.

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