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 casualtie...