The Story of Henry "Black Death" Johnson
Henry Johnson enlisted in the Army in 1917 and was assigned to the 369th National Guard Infantry Regiment in New York. It was the first unit formed entirely by African Americans, later called : The Harlem Hellfighters.
In 1918, the Hellfighters were in France and were only used for low-level tasks such as unloading ships, digging holes, all for their skin color. French officers saw something in the unit so the US Army loaned the Hellfighters to the French army. A week later, Sgt. Johnson and his friend Roberts were on night watch in the trenches, when a squad of Germans (about 30 men) rushed over the two Hellfighters. Both caught between shrapnel and grenades, Johnson was shot in the chest with a shotgun and Roberts was shot twice with a pistol.
The Germans rushed into the ditch and took Roberts as a prisoner. Sergeant Johnson got up and went after them, firing his rifle, killing and wounding several Germans, he was also shot several times during the exchange of shots. With his rifle stuck, he rushed to the Germans, hitting one to death with his rifle butt, breaking it in the process. He then pulled out his French Bolo knife and began his assault on the German positions, killing 24 Germans with the knife and bare hands. Then he found his friend Pvt. Roberts, and dragged him to safety. The next morning about 30 Germans were found by the reinforcements, and the two Hellfighters singing songs around a campfire. After this, Sergeant Johnson was given the nickname "Black Death". For his actions, the sergeant. Johnson was awarded the War Cross (Palm and Star) by France for his heroism and valor in combat.
Sargeant. Johnson died years after myocarditis in 1929. In 1996, he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. In 2002, after his death he was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest honor in the United States. In 2015, almost 100 years later, Sgt. Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
j652 26117