Henry Johnson, the Harlem Hellfighter Who Earned the Medal of Honor

Oct 09 , 2025

Henry Johnson, the Harlem Hellfighter Who Earned the Medal of Honor

Sgt. Henry Johnson stood alone beneath a rain of steel, his body torn, blood flooding the tangled trenches of the Argonne Forest. Around him, the night cracked open with gunfire and screams. The enemy raiding party pressed forward, intent on slaughtering his squad. But Johnson did not flinch. He fought with every ounce of fury left in his shattered frame. His hands gripped his rifle like a lifeline—and by dawn, he was the only thing standing between death and his comrades.

Background & Faith

Born in 1892, Henry Johnson grew up in Albany, New York. A laborer, a boxer, a man molded by hard work and harder streets. But beneath the calloused fists and steely gaze burned a quiet faith. He carried the old scriptures in his heart, shaped by a community that knew sorrow and hope in equal measure. “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts.” (Psalm 28:7) This was more than words—it was armor.

When war broke, Johnson joined the 369th Infantry Regiment. Known as the Harlem Hellfighters, this unit was America’s first African American combat regiment to fight in World War I. They faced not just the German Army, but prejudice from within their own ranks. Yet Johnson's resolve never wavered. Honor above all.

The Battle That Defined Him

Night fell on May 15, 1918. The Germans launched a surprise raid on Johnson’s platoon near the Bois de Belleau. Outnumbered, outgunned, the men fled. But Johnson stood firm. Reports say he suffered multiple wounds—rifle bullets, bayonet stabs—but he wielded his bolo knife like a demon unleashed.

“He valiantly fought off the attacking raiders, killing at least four and wounding others… he accounted for at least 12 enemy soldiers before receiving help.” — Citation, Medal of Honor, 2015[1]

He saved his fellow soldiers from imminent massacre, dragging the wounded to safety even as his strength ebbed. Hours-long combat pitted man against shadows. Johnson’s courage was grim, relentless. No surrender, no retreat. Just the raw edge of survival.

Recognition

Yet decades would pass before the nation fully recognized Sgt. Henry Johnson’s heroism. In 1919, France awarded him the Croix de Guerre avec Palme, one of its highest honors[2]. The U.S. military delayed.

It wasn’t until July 2015—nearly a century later—that the Medal of Honor came. President Barack Obama presented it posthumously, affirming Johnsson’s fight as a testament to valor and sacrifice across racial lines[3].

Major General Allen said it best:

“Sgt. Henry Johnson’s courage under fire was unmatched, a legacy stepping beyond the battlefield, proving true warriors exist in every color of skin.”

Legacy & Lessons

Johnson’s story is not just about one man’s fight. It’s about the cost of justice, the weight of overlooked sacrifice. His scars—both physical and societal—mirror the unspoken wounds many veterans carry. Quiet battles fought with dignity.

He reminds us: Courage is not absence of fear. It’s standing when all odds scream to fall.

For veterans still haunted by war’s ghosts, Johnson is a beacon. A soldier who fought not just for country, but for respect, for brotherhood, for redemption.

And for civilians, a call to witness history honestly. To honor the broken yet unbroken men who stood tall, long before medals ever arrived.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) — Sgt. Johnson carried this faith into the mud and gore of battle, leaving a legacy carved in courage and grace.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Citation: Sgt. Henry Johnson 2. French Ministry of Defense records, Croix de Guerre Recipients – WWI 3. White House Archives, Medal of Honor Ceremony, July 2015, Remarks by President Obama