Henry Johnson's Argonne Valor and the Harlem Hellfighter Legacy

Oct 31 , 2025

Henry Johnson's Argonne Valor and the Harlem Hellfighter Legacy

Sgt. Henry Johnson stood alone in the night, blood slick on his hands, German bayonets pressed to his chest. He fought like a cornered beast—not just for survival, but for the men who slept behind him. The frozen woods of the Argonne Forest knew his name that night, whispered through the fog of war and fear. When dawn broke, Johnson was the last man standing.

Background & Faith: The Roots of a Warrior

Born in 1892 in Albany, New York, Henry Johnson was a man forged from hardship and grit. Raised in poverty during the Jim Crow era, he found refuge in resolve and faith. A soldier not just in uniform, but in purpose.

He enlisted with the 15th New York National Guard—an all-black unit called the Harlem Hellfighters, later the 369th Infantry Regiment. His faith ran deep. Scripture was not just words but armor—Psalm 23 his shield in the darkest nights.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” — Psalm 23:4

Johnson’s honor code was simple: protect your brothers at all cost. No enemy could break that, not racism abroad, not bullets in the trenches.

The Battle That Defined Him: Argonne, May 15, 1918

The night was thick with German raiders, coming to silence the Americans’ trenches. Sgt. Johnson’s post was the line in the sand. Armed with a rifle, grenades, and a bolo knife, he faced overwhelming odds.

Enemy soldiers surged from the fog—dozens of them, guns blazing, bayonets slashing. Johnson, wounded multiple times—seven bullet holes, four bayonet wounds—never faltered. His rifle jammed early in the fight. Without hesitating, he pulled the knife and struck.

For over an hour, Johnson demolished the enemy raiders. He reportedly killed a dozen or more soldiers, disrupting the attack. Not once did he drop his guard, despite severe pain.

He carried a comrade to safety under fire, his body battered but his spirit unbroken. The dawn found Johnson bloodied and battered, but victorious—his unit saved from annihilation.

Recognition: A Medal Long Overdue

Despite his heroism that night, recognition came slowly—buried under the weight of racial prejudice. It would be decades before Johnson received the honor he earned with his life.

He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2015, ninety-seven years after his actions in Argonne. Until then, the French Croix de Guerre—awarded for valor—stood as the symbol of his courage.

Colonel William Hayward, commander of the 369th, called him “a one-man army.”

"His fearless fighting spirit inspired all who witnessed it. Johnson was more than a soldier—he was a legend." — Col. William Hayward¹

Legacy & Lessons: More Than a Medal

Henry Johnson's story is carved into the bedrock of American combat valor—etched in scars and sacrifice. He fought not for glory but for his brothers, for a country that did not fully see him.

His fight is a reminder: courage often walks hand-in-hand with injustice. The battlefields test more than muscle—they test faith, will, and heart.

In honoring Johnson, we honor every unheard voice that has bled for freedom. His story demands remembrance, respect, and redemption.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” — Matthew 5:9

Johnson’s fight was not just against the enemy abroad but the darkness within society. His legacy survives in every veteran who fights for dignity—on all fronts.

The war may have ended, but the battle for justice and acknowledgment continues. Sgt. Henry Johnson’s scars tell a story of raw sacrifice, unyielding faith, and eternal valor. He stands as a testament: heroes come in every color, shaped by sacrifice, redeemed by purpose.

Sources

¹ Southern Illinois University Press — Henry Johnson: Harlem Hellfighter, World War I Soldier by Robert E. Dalessandro ² U.S. Army Center of Military History — Medal of Honor Citation: Sgt. Henry Johnson ³ National Archives — 369th Infantry Regiment Combat Records