Sgt. Henry Johnson's Medal of Honor and Argonne Heroism

Oct 08 , 2025

Sgt. Henry Johnson's Medal of Honor and Argonne Heroism

Sgt. Henry Johnson’s fight wasn’t just a clash of bullets and blood. It was a stand against darkness, a last wall between slaughter and survival. On May 15, 1918, in the thick woods of the Argonne Forest, he faced death for hours without surrender — wounded, outnumbered, unbroken.

From the Streets of Albany to the Trenches of France

Henry Johnson was born in 1892, Albany, New York, a city marked by hardship and fight. He grew up in a world that often told him he didn’t belong. Black in early 20th-century America. Soldier in a segregated army. Yet, from his roots emerged a solemn code: honor beyond color, courage beyond fear.

Faith ran deep — a quiet backbone amidst the noise of war. Baptized in the church and hammered by the streets, Johnson clung to a creed that transcended circumstance: “The Lord is my refuge and my fortress.” He carried that into the hellfire, knowing the eyes watching most keenly were not just human.

The Battle That Defined Him

Assigned to the 369th Infantry Regiment, the “Harlem Hellfighters,” Johnson’s unit was fierce and unyielding. Despite segregation and prejudice, they fought where others faltered. Yet no engagement tested Henry like that frigid night in the Argonne Forest.

A German raiding party slipped close, bent on slaughter and setting fires. When others were paralyzed by panic, Johnson rose to fight. Armed with only a rifle and a bolo knife, he tore into the enemy. For hours, he battled with savage tenacity, killing as many as 20 enemy soldiers and dragging wounded comrades to safety.

He took bullets — crushing wounds to his arms and leg — but did not yield. To quote his Medal of Honor citation, he “exhibited extraordinary heroism in action.” Johnson’s grim determination stopped the raid and saved the unit from near annihilation.

Honoring Valor in an Unequal Age

Despite the scale of his sacrifice, recognition was slow to come. His Medal of Honor wasn’t awarded until 2015 — nearly a century later. Yet during the war, Henry received the Croix de Guerre from France and the Distinguished Service Cross from the U.S. Army.

His commander, Col. William Hayward, praised him: “Johnson’s gallantry and devotion were unsurpassed.” Fellow soldiers remembered him as “a one-man army, fierce and fearless.”

Even in a military riddled with racial bias, Johnson’s deeds shine pure. His heroism overturned prejudices slammed against him at every turn.

The Lasting Echo of Courage and Redemption

Henry Johnson’s story isn’t just about one man’s battle. It’s a testament to the cost of freedom and the stubborn strength of the human spirit. His courage was not born from invincibility, but from grit forged in pain and faith.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged…” — Joshua 1:9

He wore his wounds quietly. Came home to a world that still fought him. But he left a legacy of sacrifice that transcends time.

Today, Sgt. Henry Johnson reminds us that valor knows no color. That grit can overcome hate. That redemption sometimes rides on the edge of a blade in a dark forest.

His blood forged a pathway for those who came after him, veterans who bear scars both visible and invisible. To honor him is to honor the countless souls who stand ready, bearing the weight of sacrifice, so others might live in peace.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: World War I” 2. Overton, Stephen J., “Sgt. Henry Johnson and the Harlem Hellfighters”, New York Historical Society 3. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, “Henry Johnson Citation” 4. Hayward, William, “Memoirs of the 369th Infantry Regiment”