Henry Johnson’s Heroism at the Argonne with the Harlem Hellfighters

Jan 03 , 2026

Henry Johnson’s Heroism at the Argonne with the Harlem Hellfighters

Night shattered by gunfire, screams in the frozen French woods. Sgt. Henry Johnson didn’t back down. Not once. Alone, surrounded by demons wearing German steel, his hands torn open, blood mixing with mud, he fought—fought to save his brothers in the 369th Infantry, the “Harlem Hellfighters.” His was the kind of heroism soaked in sweat, fear, and bone-deep grit.

The Roots of a Warrior

Born in 1892, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Henry Johnson came from the soil of Jim Crow oppression and hardship. A man forged in struggle, before the war’s cannon fire ever echoed. When the U.S. entered the Great War, Johnson joined the New York National Guard’s 15th Regiment—packed with African American soldiers who knew the price of blood and prejudice.

Faith wasn’t just words for Johnson; it was his armor. Raised in a Christian household, he carried Proverbs 27:17 close to heart:

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

In that brotherhood and belief, Henry found strength. His life wasn’t just about survival—it was about fighting with honor for a country that had yet to fully claim him as its own.

The Battle That Defined Him

May 15, 1918 — the Argonne Forest, France. The 369th held the line. The enemy’s shadow crept closer, then, suddenly—a German raiding party smashed through.

Johnson and Pvt. Needham Roberts were on patrol when the attack hit—overwhelming odds, hand-to-hand combat in the dark woods. Johnson’s weapon jammed early. No gun, no chance? Not for Sergeant Henry Johnson.

He grabbed his bolo knife. A savage close-quarters fight unfolded. Reports say he struck down one enemy after another, shielding Roberts, who was wounded badly.

Johnson himself suffered more than 20 wounds—gunshots, bayonet cuts, broken bones. Still, he fought. He carried Roberts back to safety under withering fire, refusing to surrender or die quietly in the mud.

His actions bought precious hours, saving his unit from annihilation. The Harlem Hellfighters held their ground, in no small part because of his relentless defiance of death.

Recognition Forged in Fire

Henry Johnson's bravery went largely unheralded for decades. Racial barriers and military bureaucracy buried the story.

Yet testimonies from French comrades and commanding officers could not be ignored. In 1918, the French government awarded him the Croix de Guerre with a special citation—a rare honor to an American soldier. The French called him “Black Death” for his ferocity[1].

Recognition by the U.S. came painfully slow. It wasn’t until 2015 that Sergeant Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military distinction, by President Barack Obama.

“Henry Johnson’s courage is a beacon for us all,” Obama said. “In the heat of battle, he acted with unwavering bravery and commitment to his fellow soldiers.”[2]

Johnson’s Medal of Honor citation highlights his extraordinary valor. It wasn’t some cinematic exaggeration—his combat prowess and sacrifice transformed a desperate position into a lifeline for his comrades.

Legacy Etched in Blood and Honor

Sergeant Henry Johnson’s scars tell a story of war, but his legacy tells a story beyond war.

He shines a light on the double fight African American soldiers faced: enemies abroad and hatred at home. His heroism demanded that America reckon with its contradictions—to honor those who proved their valor on foreign soil while facing discrimination stateside.

His life reminds veterans and civilians alike: courage often means standing firm when the world expects you to break. It means protecting your brothers even when your body is fractured. It means hope—even when history flickers in shadow.

Johnson’s story carries this truth: sacrifice stamped in blood is never in vain. Redemption waits beyond the battlefield.

“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

In Henry Johnson, a warrior’s spirit burned bright—refusing to be forgotten, demanding that we all remember what it means to fight, to bleed, to live with purpose.

Sources

1. Oxford University Press + The Harlem Hellfighters: When Pride Met Courage 2. The White House Archives + President Obama’s 2015 Medal of Honor Ceremony Remarks