Through Thick and Thin: The Turbulent Life of Henry Johnson

William Henry Johnson, born around July 15, 1892, died July 1, 1929, commonly known as Henry Johnson, was a United States Army soldier who performed heroically in the first African American unit of the United States Army to engage in combat in World War I. In 1918, Johnson fought off a German raid in hand-to-hand combat, killing multiple German soldiers & rescuing a fellow soldier while suffering 21 wounds, in an action that was brought to the nation's attention by coverage in the New York World and the Saturday Evening Post later that year. In that same year, the French awarded Johnson with a Croix de Guerre with star and bronze palm. He was the first U.S. soldier in World War I to receive that honor.

Johnson died, poor and in obscurity, in 1929. There was a long struggle to achieve awards for him from the U.S. military. He was finally awarded the Purple Heart in 1996. In 2002, the U.S. military awarded him the Distinguished Service Cross. Previous efforts to secure the Medal of Honor failed, but in 2015 he was posthumously honored with the award.

A common, optimistic belief among African-Americans of this time was that if they served bravely in the United States military, they would in turn gain the respect and equality that had been thus far absent. However, the United States War Department was unwilling at the time to be a beacon of social change.

As a result of this mindset, practices that limited equality and opportunity in civilian society were carried over to military society. A number of African-American enlistees were turned away from the war effort, mainly because there were not enough segregated Black units to take them in. Those who managed to successfully enlist faced segregated transportation to segregated military bases and regiments that were rarely deployed to much more than the tasks of support and maintenance. Once overseas, it wasn't uncommon for an all-Black unit to be "lent" to one of the Allied armies. Supposedly, the unreported and unofficial reason for this was to pacify vocal white U.S. soldiers who refused to fight alongside black troops.

This is how Henry Johnson, and the rest of his American unit, ended up fighting under the French 4th Army on the Western Front. This would eventually lead to a violent night in May 1918 that would change Johnson's life forever.

Johnson's story, hidden history that has remained long forgotten, is the story of an American patriot intent on keeping alive the spirit of liberty and those unwilling to see past the color of one's skin for the common good of a nation.

 

For the rest of Johnson's story, please check out the audio link provided for EPISODE FIVE of our new podcast, Hidden History:

 

LISTEN NOW: Through Thick and Thin: The Turbulent Life of Henry Johnson

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Images and Newspaper Articles

This registration card, dated June 5, 1917, shows Johnson “made his mark” and it was witnessed, which indicates he was probably illiterate.

This was not an uncommon circumstance for men raised in the South where education of African-American children was not a priority.

During World War I, African American soldiers of the 369th Infantry Regiment and a white officer practice what they soon would experience: fighting in the trenches of the Western Front. They are wearing French helmets and using French-issued rifles and equipment.

Since they were fighting under French command, it was easier to resupply them from the French system than trying to get American-issued items.

Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts in 1918.

The 369th Infantry in rest billets at Maffrecourt, France. Henry Johnson, with his famous smile, is at the right in the foreground.

The "Our Colored Heroes" lithograph, published by E.G. Renesch in 1918, depicts the German raid on Henry Johnson and Pvt. Needham Roberts during World War I. The lithograph quotes Gen. Pershing, who praises the two African American sentries, who "continued fighting after receiving wounds and despite the use of grenades by a superior force."

This is a copy of the French Order to award Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts the Croix de Guerre.

Dated May 16, 1918.

The Stars & Stripes, May 24, 1918.

Henry on the deck of the Stockholm with a lifeboat in the background. Note the wound chevrons on his right sleeve.

The chevrons on the left sleeve indicate overseas service. Both sets of chevrons were gold. We can clearly see the star and the palm on the ribbon above his Croix de Guerre. The device on his shoulder goes with the medal and is known as a fourragère.

The New York National Guard register.

New York Abstract of WWI Military Service.

New York, The Sun, Thursday, February 13, 1919.

Colonel Hayward’s “Hellfighters” in parade. The famous 369th Infantry marching in New York City in honor of their return to this country.

Henry Johnson and the Harlem Hellfighters in a parade up Fifth Avenue upon their return to New York, February, 18, 1919.

A newspaper illustration depicting Johnson's battle.

The Pittsburg Leader, August 23, 1919.

Credit: Library of Congress

The New York Age, 1929, announcing Henry Johnson's death.

The Pittsburgh Courier, published July 11, 1919,

announcing Henry Johnson's death.

A copy of Henry Johnson's death certificate. Note his age at death was listed as 39 years old, putting his birth year at around 1890.

In other documents, Henry claims that his birth year is 1892. 

Henry Johnson biographical cartoon by Charles Alston, 1943. This cartoon was used as a recruiting tool during WWII.

This letter, dated February 6, 1958, was written by Langston Hughes. An American poet & social activist who was best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes wrote this letter seeking more information about Henry Johnson. Note the birth year Hughes used for Johnson: 1897.

This display in the New York State Capitol's War Room highlights the military career of Sgt. Henry Johnson. On display are Johnson’s Medal of Honor, a French helmet similar to one worn by members of the 369th Infantry Regiment, an Army-issued bolo knife, a 369th Infantry Regiment patch and the regiment’s flag.

Credit: New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs

Tombstone of Henry Johnson at Arlington National Cemetery.

The Henry Johnson Memorial, Washington Park, Albany, New York.

Note: Henry's Croix de Guerre had a bronze palm, the gold palm wasn't created until WWII.

Command Sgt. Maj. Louis Wilson of the New York Army National Guard accepts the Medal of Honor on behalf of Henry Johnson, June 2, 2015.

97 years after extraordinary acts of courage and selflessness, Henry Johnson finally received the award he deserved all along.

Reading Material

The following link brings you to the National Archives, a treasure trove of information. There you have access to not only different historical records but photographs as well:

An excellent article about African-American soldiers in WWI, which can originally be found on the National Museum of the United States Army's website:

The African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship explores black America's quest for equality from the early national period through the twentieth century. It showcases the incomparable African American collections of the Library of Congress by displaying more than 240 items, including books, government documents, manuscripts, maps, musical scores, and plays in the largest black history exhibit ever presented by the Library.

Resources

Comments

W. Gonzalez
a year ago

This guy went through a lot, such an inspiring story. Sent this episode to a vet buddy of mine, keep sharing these stories! 🇺🇸

Monica S.
a year ago

Why haven’t we heard of this guy during Black History Month? Seems like he was a bad ass! 🇺🇸💪🏾🙏🏾

Craig Jones
a year ago

This guy right here should be taught more in schools. Kids these days looking up to guys like LeBron James when they SHOULD be looking up to a man like Henry. Much respect.

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