Nov 18 , 2025

Sgt Henry Johnson's Argonne Stand Earned a Belated Medal of Honor

Blood. Cold night air. The crack of rifle fire and a howl that didn’t come from man nor beast. Sgt. Henry Johnson stood alone, torn by bullets and shattered bone, facing a German raid deep in the Argonne Forest. His breath burned in his lungs, but surrender was a word lost to him. He fought like a ghost possessed—not just for survival, but to save the lives of the men behind him.

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The Roots of a Warrior

Henry Johnson was born in 1892 in Albany, New York—raised in the shadow of segregation and systemic oppression, a country that doubted his valor before he ever wore a uniform. He carried more than a rifle into battle; he carried the weight of every invisible wound ever inflicted by racism and injustice.

He enlisted in the 15th New York National Guard, the "Harlem Hellfighters," an all-black unit that would not just face the enemy but their own country’s scorn. Faith was his anchor. In letters home, Johnson referenced his belief in a higher power carrying him through the darkest hours. The Psalms were his quiet armor—“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” (Psalm 23:4). That scripture wasn’t just solace. It was a promise.

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The Battle That Defined Him

Night of May 15, 1918. Near the village of Charlevaux, Argonne Forest—German raiders slipped through the shadows aiming to skin alive the defenses of Company C, 369th Infantry Regiment. Johnson and Private Needham Roberts were on sentry duty.

Chaos erupted. Outnumbered and nearly blinded by the suddenness of the attack, Johnson grabbed a discarded rifle. Gunfire erupted. His body took the brunt—bayonet wounds pierced flesh, bullets ripped through. Still, he fought.

Witness accounts and after-action reports describe Johnson’s relentless counterattack. Despite severe wounds, he fought off multiple enemy soldiers, drawing fire away and killing at least four of the raiders with his rifle and a knife. He shielded Roberts, who was badly hurt, and saved their position from being overrun.

When reinforcements arrived, the raiding party was shattered. Johnson collapsed, wounds terrifying but his will unbroken. Military doctors later described his injuries as among the worst seen—shattered face, head trauma, and nine bullet and bayonet wounds.

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Recognition Comes Too Late

The medal that most should have come swiftly was denied him for decades. Refused the Medal of Honor in his lifetime—an indictment of the era’s deep prejudice—Johnson was instead awarded the Croix de Guerre by France, a rare honor for an American soldier.[1] The Harlem Hellfighters’ valor was lauded abroad but ignored by their own government.

Despite public outcry, official acknowledgment waited until 2015. President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Sgt. Henry Johnson the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House—almost a century after his deeds had earned the world’s respect but America’s silence.[2]

“His story is a story of heroism that deserves to be told and retold...” – Sen. Chuck Schumer, 2015

Veterans who knew of Johnson’s fight called him a “legend.” His relentless defense, refusal to quit even as his own blood betrayed him, embodied the warrior’s creed and the unyielding pursuit of justice.

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Legacy of Courage, atonement in remembrance

Henry Johnson’s story is not just about bullets and bravery. It’s about a man who fought battles within and without—the enemy on the battlefield and the enemy of racism back home. His scars run deep, etched not only on skin but in the history of America’s struggle to reconcile its ideals with its actions.

His redemption teaches us that valor cannot be diminished by color or circumstance. It demands recognition, even if delayed. His life reminds us that true courage is acting in the face of dehumanization, standing firm when the world tries to break you.

For veterans who bear invisible wounds, Sgt. Johnson’s fight is a beacon. It is proof that sacrifice shapes legacy, not just medals. The battlefield never forgets those who bleed for a brother’s life.

“I am not afraid...for the Lord is with me.” (Psalm 23:4)

His final fight was not just for survival. It was for the soul of a nation still learning what honor really means.

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Sources

[1] Center of Military History, The Harlem Hellfighters: 369th Infantry Regiment in World War I

[2] U.S. Army, “President Obama awards Medal of Honor to Sgt. Henry Johnson,” 2015

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