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Private Henry Lincoln Johnson (born on 1897), a member of the Harlem Hellfighters (369th Infantry Division, New York National Guard), was one of the first Americans to be awarded the French Croix de Guerre. During a singular act of heroism, Johnson was wounded over twenty times on the night of 14 May 1918 as he fought off a German patrol and rescued a comrade, Private Needham Roberts, who was being taken captive by the Germans. Roberts, who was severely wounded in the fight and could not stand, was also awarded the Croix de Guerre.-
Johnson and Roberts were manning a two man outpost when the German patrol, estimated at more than 20 men, attacked with grenades. Wounded, both Americans emptied their weapons and Roberts, who was wounded in his hip or knee and unable to stand, tossed grenades to Johnson who hurled them at the enemy patrol in an effort to stave off the attackers. Greatly outnumbered and out of ammo, both men used their rifles as clubs on their attackers, according to Major Arthur Little, who commanded a battalion of the 369th at the time.
Finally, as two Germans tried to drag Roberts away, Johnson drew a 9 inch double-edged knife from his belt and attacked them. One of the Germans cried out in American accented English when Johnson stabbed him. Undone by the unexpected ferocity and tenacity of Johnson's counterattack, the Germans withdrew, taking their wounded and dead with them. Major Little reported that Johnson killed four Germans and wounded at least twice that many. A patrol from the 369th followed the Germans' blood trail back to a point close to the enemy lines.
Johnson’s exploits on that remarkable Spring night in 1918 are all the more extraordinary when one learns he stood only 5’ 4†and weighed 130 pounds. As noted earlier, the French awarded Johnson the Croix de Guerre with Gold Palm in 1918 for his bravery.-
Henry Johnson was unable to return to his former civilian job because of the disability caused by his wounds. He worked at various menial jobs and died nearly penniless in 1929, not as a hero, but as an unhappy alcoholic, estranged from his wife and family.
In 1996, seventy-eight years later, the United States Army finally got around to awarding Johnson a Purple Heart. Johnson died in 1929 without receiving a decoration of any kind from the United States Army for his heroic deeds. He was, however, promoted to sergeant.
In 2003, eighty-five years after he'd received France’s highest military honor for bravery, Henry Johnson was posthumously awarded the United States Army's Distinguished Service Cross.-
For years, his son Herman Johnson thought his father had been buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave. Instead, the Henry Johnson was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Sixty-three years after Henry Johnson’s death, his son, in company with then New York Governor George Pataki, placed a wreath on the grave in Arlington.-
NY Gov. George Pataki, right, along with Herman Johnson, left, pause after placing a wreath at the gravesite of Johnson's father, at Arlington National Cemetery - Jan. 10, 2002.-
From:
8thwood.com
northcarolinaroom.wordpress.com
arlingtoncemetery.net
Johnson and Roberts were manning a two man outpost when the German patrol, estimated at more than 20 men, attacked with grenades. Wounded, both Americans emptied their weapons and Roberts, who was wounded in his hip or knee and unable to stand, tossed grenades to Johnson who hurled them at the enemy patrol in an effort to stave off the attackers. Greatly outnumbered and out of ammo, both men used their rifles as clubs on their attackers, according to Major Arthur Little, who commanded a battalion of the 369th at the time.
Finally, as two Germans tried to drag Roberts away, Johnson drew a 9 inch double-edged knife from his belt and attacked them. One of the Germans cried out in American accented English when Johnson stabbed him. Undone by the unexpected ferocity and tenacity of Johnson's counterattack, the Germans withdrew, taking their wounded and dead with them. Major Little reported that Johnson killed four Germans and wounded at least twice that many. A patrol from the 369th followed the Germans' blood trail back to a point close to the enemy lines.
Johnson’s exploits on that remarkable Spring night in 1918 are all the more extraordinary when one learns he stood only 5’ 4†and weighed 130 pounds. As noted earlier, the French awarded Johnson the Croix de Guerre with Gold Palm in 1918 for his bravery.-
Henry Johnson was unable to return to his former civilian job because of the disability caused by his wounds. He worked at various menial jobs and died nearly penniless in 1929, not as a hero, but as an unhappy alcoholic, estranged from his wife and family.
In 1996, seventy-eight years later, the United States Army finally got around to awarding Johnson a Purple Heart. Johnson died in 1929 without receiving a decoration of any kind from the United States Army for his heroic deeds. He was, however, promoted to sergeant.
In 2003, eighty-five years after he'd received France’s highest military honor for bravery, Henry Johnson was posthumously awarded the United States Army's Distinguished Service Cross.-
For years, his son Herman Johnson thought his father had been buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave. Instead, the Henry Johnson was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Sixty-three years after Henry Johnson’s death, his son, in company with then New York Governor George Pataki, placed a wreath on the grave in Arlington.-
NY Gov. George Pataki, right, along with Herman Johnson, left, pause after placing a wreath at the gravesite of Johnson's father, at Arlington National Cemetery - Jan. 10, 2002.-
From:
8thwood.com
northcarolinaroom.wordpress.com
arlingtoncemetery.net