US Army SGT Henry Johnson: Medal of Honor Recipient WWI On May 15, 1918, deep in the trenches of the Western Front, Private Henry Johnson of the famed Harlem Hellfighters faced a brutal surprise attack from a 12-man German raiding party. Severely wounded and outnumbered, Johnson fought back with unmatched bravery. With his rifle jammed and bullets flying, Johnson used grenades, his fists, and eventually a Bolo knife, engaging in hand-to-hand combat to protect a fellow soldier and repel the enemy

Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts were "the war heroes that black America had been searching for." Their heroism in battle on May 15, 1918 made them household names. | American Experience | PBS

Over 100 years ago, Private Henry Johnson (1897-1929) fought off more than 20 enemy Germans to protect a fellow soldier, suffering severe injuries in the process. In spite of his heroism, when he returned home he was admonished for speaking out about the racism he and his fellow African American soldiers faced while serving in the military and he died in relative obscurity in 1929. In 1996, Johnson was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and, in 2015, the Medal of Honor. Watch this short video

Four Vietnam War Soldiers will be awarded the Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House on July 5, 2022. Tune in to our FB Live events on July 5 and 6 to celebrate these heroes and follow the link below to learn their stories! ▶️: https://go.usa.gov/xJzVK | U.S. Army