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Nearly a century too late, that is about to change. On Thursday, the White House announced that Johnson and another WWI veteran, a Jewish sergeant named William Shemin, will be given the Medal of Honor, America’s highest military award.
The Harlem Hellfighter who received the Medal of Honor was Sergeant Henry Johnson, a member of the 369th Infantry Regiment during World War I.
Sergeant Henry Johnson received the Medal of Honor posthumously on June 2, 2015, almost 97 years after his heroic actions in the war.
Sergeant Henry Johnson displayed extraordinary bravery and heroism when he single-handedly fought off a group of German soldiers who were attempting to take him and his fellow soldier captive. He used his rifle, a rifle butt, and even his bare hands to fend off the attackers.
Sergeant Henry Johnson's recognition as a hero and recipient of the Medal of Honor helped shed light on the contributions and sacrifices of African American soldiers during World War I. It also paved the way for future African American soldiers to receive equal recognition for their bravery and service.
Sergeant Henry Johnson's legacy continues to inspire future generations. In 2018, the U.S. Army honored him by naming a building after him at Fort Benning, Georgia. Additionally, a statue of him was unveiled in his hometown of Albany, New York, in 2019.