Henry Johnson – “Black Death”: The Forgotten Hero of World War I

 


In the silent woods of the Argonne Forest, under the cover of darkness in May 1918, a young African-American soldier named

Henry Johnson faced an impossible battle. As part of the Harlem Hellfighters—an all-Black regiment serving under French command—Johnson stood watch when a German raiding party launched a brutal surprise attack. What followed was a fight so fierce, so heroic, that Johnson’s name should be carved into every American history book.

But for nearly a century, it wasn’t.

The Night Courage Defied the Odds

Armed with just a rifle and a few grenades, Johnson faced nearly two dozen enemy soldiers alone after his partner was severely wounded. When his gun jammed, he used it as a club. When that broke, he drew his bolo knife and fought in hand-to-hand combat.

He was shot, stabbed, and struck with grenades, yet still managed to protect his comrade and repel the German attackers. When reinforcements arrived, the ground around him was littered with enemy casualties. Henry Johnson had held the line, single-handedly saving lives and stopping the raid.

Decorated Abroad, Ignored at Home

For his unmatched bravery, the French government awarded Johnson the Croix de Guerre, their highest military honor. But in the United States—where racism ran deep—there was no parade, no medal, not even a pension. He returned home injured and broke. His wounds never fully healed, and he died in poverty at just 32.

The Army denied him disability benefits. The government erased his sacrifice. Henry Johnson became a hero the nation chose to forget.

A Legacy Finally Recognized

It took nearly 100 years for justice to come. In 2015, long after his death, Henry Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama. The long-overdue recognition finally placed him where he belonged: among the bravest in American history.

Johnson's story is more than a war story. It’s a story of racial injustice, resilience, and long-overdue redemption. He was a man who gave everything for a country that gave him nothing in return—until his memory roared back to life.

Henry Johnson, the man German soldiers once called the “Black Death,” is no longer forgotten. He is a symbol of unshakable courage—a man who stood alone in the dark and never backed down.

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