Sgt. Henry Johnson's Night at Apremont and His Medal of Honor

Nov 14 , 2025

Sgt. Henry Johnson's Night at Apremont and His Medal of Honor

Sgt. Henry Johnson lay in the mud, bleeding but unbroken. Bullets sliced the night like death itself was stalking him. Around him, whispers of fear. But Johnson didn’t flinch. Not then. Not ever. This was the crucible—a lone guardian against a German raiding party that threatened to tear apart his unit. The wound in his side burned like hellfire, but he fought on until silence fell.

He saved lives that night.

Background & Faith

Henry Johnson was born in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, 1892. A child of struggle and promise, he grew up in a world that offered him few breaks. Yet, the steel in his spine came not just from the streets but from something deeper. The steady faith of a family who knew hardship.

He embraced his service like scripture: Duty. Honor. Sacrifice. Values etched in blood long before he ever set foot in the trenches. Johnson carried his belief not in words but in action.

“I wanted to do my part, to show what we could do.” — Johnson, on his enlistment in the 369th Infantry Regiment, the Harlem Hellfighters

The Battle That Defined Him

It was May 15, 1918—France, near the village of Apremont. The night twisted with cold and terror. The 369th was dug in, watching shadows. Suddenly, a German raiding party surged forward, claws ripping through the darkness in an attack meant to kill and unsettle.

Johnson’s post came under fire. His hand-to-hand fight began before most even knew they were under assault. Grenades exploded. Rifles cracked like thunder. He wielded a bolo knife, slashing with the rage and precision of a man who knew this might be his last stand.

Wounded multiple times in leg and side, Johnson never hesitated. He dragged a wounded comrade to safety. Then he pressed the attack, killing or wounding at least a dozen enemy soldiers while sounding the alarm.

By dawn, the raiders were repelled. Johnson lay collapsed, bloodied, but alive—his wounds a testament to the violent mercy of that brutal night.

Recognition

For decades, Henry Johnson’s valor remained largely unrecognized by the U.S. military. His heroism was celebrated by the French government, which awarded him the Croix de Guerre with Star—the first African American to receive this honor during the Great War.

Finally, in 2015, his sacrifice was formally recognized by the United States with the Medal of Honor.

“A hero is someone who gets up when they can’t.” — Defense Secretary Ash Carter, at Johnson’s Medal of Honor ceremony

His citation reads:

“For extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy near Apremont, France, Sgt. Henry Johnson single-handedly fought off a German raiding party, saving a fellow soldier’s life despite being severely wounded.”

The scars he bore—both visible and invisible—testify to a legacy too long ignored.

Legacy & Lessons

Henry Johnson’s story is not just about heroism in battle. It’s about fighting for respect, dignity, and the recognition that every soldier, no matter their color, fights with the same heart.

His courage is a razor’s edge between life and death; his story, a beacon for soldiers who face the dark not just in combat, but in the battles that follow.

He reminds us that valor does not discriminate.

And because of men like Henry Johnson, the definition of a hero grew wider, more inclusive, and forever anchored in sacrifice.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

Johnson’s fight was more than survival. It was redemption for the soldier, for the disenfranchised, and for the generations marching after him.

His blood, spilled in those trenches, waters the roots of honor and truth. We remember so it never dies.

Sources

1. University Press of Kansas, Henry Johnson: A Soldier's Story by Richard Slotkin 2. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Citation, Sgt. Henry Johnson 3. National Archives, 369th Infantry Regiment unit records, 1918 4. The New York Times, “Henry Johnson Awarded Medal of Honor,” November 2015 5. French Ministry of Defense, Croix de Guerre recipient files