Medal of Honor: Henry Johnson - World War I - May 15, 1918

Name: Henry Johnson (also known as William Henry Johnson)
Rank: Private
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War I
Unit: Company C, 369th Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, American Expeditionary Forces
Date of Action: May 15, 1918
Location: Northwest of Saint-Menehould, France

Summary of Action

In the early hours of 15 May 1918, Private Henry Johnson stood guard at a forward outpost on the Western Front alongside another soldier from the famed Harlem Hellfighters of the 369th Infantry Regiment.

Without warning, a German raiding party of at least a dozen soldiers attacked the isolated position.

The enemy opened fire and rushed the outpost in an attempt to seize prisoners and gather intelligence from the Allied lines.

Johnson immediately fought back.

Despite being seriously wounded during the opening moments of the attack, he resisted fiercely with rifle fire and grenades, inflicting casualties among the advancing Germans.

As the battle became close and chaotic, Johnson’s fellow soldier was badly wounded and dragged away by enemy troops.

Ignoring his own wounds and exposing himself to deadly enemy fire, Johnson charged directly into the attackers.

When his rifle became useless, he fought hand-to-hand using only a knife.

In a savage close-quarters struggle, Johnson killed or drove off the German soldiers attempting to capture his comrade and successfully rescued the wounded man.

Though gravely injured, he continued fighting against the larger enemy force until the Germans finally retreated, abandoning weapons, equipment, and valuable intelligence behind them.

Johnson’s courage prevented the enemy from overrunning the outpost and taking American prisoners.

For decades his heroism was underrecognized, but his actions eventually became one of the most celebrated examples of bravery by an American soldier during World War I.

Medal of Honor Citation

JOHNSON, HENRY AKA WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON

Private Henry Johnson distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of heroism at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a member of Company C, 369th Infantry Regiment, 93d Infantry Division, American Expeditionary Forces on May 15, 1918, during combat operations against the enemy on the front lines of the Western Front in France. In the early morning hours, Private Johnson and another soldier were on sentry duty at a forward outpost when they received a surprise attack from a German raiding party consisting of at least 12 soldiers. While under intense enemy fire and despite receiving significant wounds, Private Johnson mounted a brave retaliation, resulting in several enemy casualties. When his fellow soldier was badly wounded and being carried away by the enemy, Private Johnson exposed himself to grave danger by advancing from his position to engage the two enemy captors in hand-to-hand combat. Wielding only a knife and gravely wounded himself, Private Johnson continued fighting, defeating the two captors and rescuing the wounded soldier. Displaying great courage, he continued to hold back the larger enemy force until the defeated enemy retreated leaving behind a large cache of weapons and equipment and providing valuable intelligence. Without Private Johnson’s quick actions and continued fighting, even in the face of almost certain death, the enemy might have succeeded in capturing prisoners and the outpost, without abandoning valuable intelligence. Private Johnson’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Company C, 369th Infantry Regiment, 93d Infantry Division and the United States Army.