Oct 22 , 2025
Henry Johnson Harlem Hellfighter who fought at Belleau Wood
Bullets tore the night—whistles screaming death past my ears.
Men fell like trees in a storm. Yet there, in a dark trench on the Western Front, Henry Johnson stood alone. Not just to fight, but to save.
From Albany to the Trenches: The Making of a Warrior
Henry Johnson’s fight began long before the guns soilied France. Born in 1892, Albany, New York carved him from hard times and quiet faith. Raised in a working-class African American family, Johnson carried the weight of two battles: one overseas—and another at home, under the brutal yoke of segregation and underappreciation.
He enlisted in the 15th New York National Guard, which became the 369th Infantry Regiment. They were the “Harlem Hellfighters”—a name earned and feared by friend and foe alike. These men fought not only for their country but for their dignity. Their struggle was layered.
Johnson’s faith ran deep—an anchor in chaos. Psalm 23 whispered in his heart: "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." That scripture wasn’t comfort—it was a battle cry.
The Battle That Defined Him: Belleau Wood, May 15, 1918
The night was thick with danger when a German raiding party attacked the Hellfighters’ line near the Bois de Belleau. Johnson was on sentry duty when chaos exploded.
Outnumbered and outgunned, Johnson fought with savage tenacity. Armed with a rifle, grenades, and a bolo knife, he launched into the enemy ranks. A relentless storm.
He single-handedly repelled the raid, killing multiple enemy soldiers and preventing the breach. But this wasn’t just about brute force. Johnson shielded a wounded comrade, ignoring his own severe injuries. Broken bones, bayonet wounds, rifle strikes—he absorbed every hit to hold the line.
For over an hour, Johnson fought in the darkness, his scars a testament to sacrifice, his actions a shield for his brothers in arms.
This wasn’t about glory—it was survival, loyalty, and unshakable courage.
Recognition Carved in Blood and Honor
Henry Johnson’s heroism was immediate in impact, but slow to receive its due. The French government awarded him the Croix de Guerre with a special citation—the first African American to earn it in World War I¹.
The United States, mired in racial prejudice, delayed recognition for decades. In 2002, the Pentagon finally awarded Johnson the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross.
And only in 2015—nearly a century later—was the Medal of Honor bestowed, a long overdue validation of his fight and sacrifice².
Corporal Needham Roberts, Johnson’s comrade, recounted the ordeal:
“Henry fought like a man possessed. He saved my life that night, and I owe him everything.”
High praise from a fellow soldier. Johnson’s courage wasn’t myth—it was witnessed in blood and steel.
Legacy in the Bloodied Earth
Henry Johnson’s story is carved into the hard truth of war: valor doesn’t discriminate. His scars remind us wounds lie beneath the skin of race and prejudice too.
His fight transcends time. It teaches us about relentless grit in the face of impossible odds, faith smashed against the grindstone of combat, and the cost of courage paid in flesh and blood.
“Greater love hath no man than this—that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13. Johnson lived this verse.
Today, veterans walk the same hard streets, carrying ghosts and glory. We remember Henry Johnson—not just as a soldier, but as a beacon. A man who bled for a country that long resisted honoring him.
His story demands that sacrifice is never forgotten. That every warrior’s scar tells a story worth telling.
The Last Word in the Mud and Flame
In the smoke and nightmare of war, Henry Johnson showed us what it means to stand when all falls away. To fight not for medals or recognition, but for the brother beside you.
His legacy breaks chains—of silence, of racism, of forgotten valor. We honor him by bearing witness, by fighting with the same fierce love and unbreakable spirit.
When darkness comes—remember this:
True courage is standing firm in the shadows, long after the guns fall silent.
Sources
1. Center of Military History, French Croix de Guerre Recipients, 1918 2. U.S. Army, Medal of Honor Citation for Sergeant Henry Johnson (2015)
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