Page 8 - Black History Month 2021 - Combined Special Edition of Luke AFB Thunderbolt Davis-Monthan AFB Desert Lightning News

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8 January 29, 2021 9
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Medal of Honor Recipients Army Sgt. mAJ. CHriStiAn Fleetwood
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KATIE LANGE
DoD News
— Army Sgt. Henry JoHnSon — tion Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, many Black men joined
After President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipa-
the Army to fight for the Union and their freedom. One of
them was Christian Fleetwood, who became one of 17 Black
by death was to be preferred to a German prison,” Soldiers to earn the Medal of Honor during the Civil War.
Fleetwood was born on July 21, 1840, into a free family
Col. RICHARD GOLDENBERG Little wrote. “But Johnson was of the opinion that in Baltimore, Maryland. He was educated in the home of his
victory was to be preferred to either.”
New York Army National Guard Johnson reached for his bolo knife and charged. father’s employer, a sugar merchant, and later graduated
He was 26 years old, 5-foot-4, weighed 130 His aggressiveness took the Germans by surprise. from Ashmun Institute in Oxford, Pennsylvania. The school
pounds and came from Albany, New York. And, “As Johnson sprang, he unsheathed his bolo is now Lincoln University; some notable alumni include
Thurgood Marshall and Langston Hughes.
on the night of May 15, 1918, Army Pvt. Henry knife, and as his knees landed upon the shoulders According to the Library of Congress, Fleetwood worked
Johnson, a member of the all-black New York of that ill-fated Boche, the blade of the knife was
National Guard 369th Infantry Regiment, found buried to the hilt through the crown of the Ger- for the Maryland Colonization Society and traveled to
African countries. He later published Baltimore’s Lyceum
himself fighting for his life against 20 German man’s head.”
soldiers out in front of his unit’s trenchline. The Army adopted the bolo knife from its experi- Courtesy photo Observer, which was one of the first Black newspapers in
Johnson fired the three rounds in his French- ence in the Philippine Insurrection of 1899. The big A Civil War-era photo shows border slave states.
made rifle, tossed all his hand grenades and then knife, used by Philippine insurgents, was heavily Army Sgt. Maj. Christian Fleet- Seven months after Lincoln issued the Emancipation
grabbed his Army-issue bolo knife and started weighted along the back of its curved blade, and wood, Medal of Honor recipient. Proclamation, Fleetwood joined the Union Army as part of
stabbing. He buried the knife in the head of one was devastating for close-quarter combat. the 4th U.S. Colored Infantry. He quickly rose to the rank
attacker and then disemboweled another German Turning to face the rest of the German patrol, of sergeant major.
Air Force photo soldier. Johnson was struck by a bullet from an automatic About a year later, he would earn the Medal of Honor.
On Sept. 29, 1864, Fleetwood and his fellow Soldiers were fighting near Chaffins Farm, a large
Medal of Honor recipient then-Air “Each slash meant something, believe me,” pistol, but continued to lunge forward, stabbing and open bluff between Richmond, Virginia, and the James River. Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant ordered
Force Capt. James P. Fleming. Johnson said later. “There wasn’t anything so fine slashing at the enemy. troops to attack northward from the river to capture the city.
about it. … just fought for my life. A rabbit would The enemy patrol panicked, Little wrote. Over-
have done that.” whelmed by Johnson’s ferocity and with the sound Photo by Lisa Ferdinando, DoD During the battle, Union soldiers overwhelmed defenders inside Fort Harrison and captured the
By the time (what a reporter at the time called) of approaching French and American troops, the New York State Military Museum strategic area of New Market Heights, where Fleetwood’s brigade was sent to fight.
At first, they were repelled, but they were eventually able to take the hill with the help of rein-
retired Air ForCe Col. JAmeS Fleming “The Battle of Henry Johnson” was over, Johnson Germans ran back into the night. ABOVE LEFT: Army Sgt. Henry Johnson was part of the 369th Infantry Regiment — forcements. During the fight, two flag bearers from Fleetwood’s unit were shot. While one Soldier
“The raiding party abandoned a considerable
had been wounded 21 times and had become the
first American hero of World War I. quantity of equipment (from which estimate of the Hellfighters from Harlem — which originally was composed of New York National picked up the regimental colors, Fleetwood picked up the U.S. flag. According to the Medal of Honor
Johnson’s actions that night brought attention strength of party is made), a number of firearms, Guard Soldiers. This photograph was taken as the ship carrying the regiment returned citation, Fleetwood “bore them (the flag, or ‘colors’) nobly through the fight.”
by the 20th Special Operations Squadron based out to the African-American doughboys of the unit — including automatic pistols, and carried away to New York City in 1919. An all-black combat unit, the 369th fought under French com- He was 23 and the highest-ranking Black man at the time to commit actions that would earn him
KATIE LANGE of Nha Trang Air Base. Their mission: to support the New York National Guard’s former 15th In- their wounded and dead,” reported the New York mand in World War I. the Medal of Honor.
troops sent into volatile areas of Vietnam along fantry, redesignated the 369th for wartime service. National Guard annual report of 1920. Fleetwood was honorably discharged from the Army in 1866. He settled in Washington, D.C., and
DoD News the Cambodian border. The 369th Infantry, detached under the French By daylight, the carnage was clear. Even after ABOVE RIGHT: New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Louis Wilson ac- spent the rest of his life working for the district and federal government. In 1887, he became the
Helicopter pilots inserted troops and pulled On Nov. 26, 1968, Fleming flew to the aid of a 4th Army’s command, arrived on the front-line suffering 21 wounds in hand-to-hand combat, John- cepts the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama on behalf of World War I Sgt. commander of the D.C. National Guard’s 7th Battalion. He remained in that position until 1892.
them out of the jungles of Vietnam on a regular seven-man team of Army Green Berets on a re- trenches in the Champagne region of northeastern son had stopped the Germans from approaching the Henry Johnson during a ceremony at the White House, June 2, 2015. Johnson served Fleetwood was actively involved in musical organizations and also organized a Colored High School
basis during the war. But Air Force Col. James connaissance patrol. They had been compromised France on April 15, 1918. They were relieved to French line or capturing his fellow Soldier. honorably with the 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the Harlem Hellfighters. Cadet Corps. He died in 1914 at the age of 74. At his funeral, the D.C. National Guard acted as an
P. Fleming’s refusal to leave anyone behind dur- while spying on enemy troops and were in danger be free of the supply and service tasks of the past “He killed one German with rifle fire, knocked escort — a fitting tribute to a man who spent much of his life building it.
ing an incident on Nov. 26, 1968, set him apart of being overrun by a large, heavily armed enemy, months and ready to join the fight. one down with clubbed rifle, killed two with bolo,
from the average pilot and earned him the Medal which chased them to a riverbank. The American Expeditionary Forces detached killed one with grenade, and, it is believed, wounded
of Honor. Fleming knew one rescue helicopter had al- the regiment to bolster an ally and preserve ra- others,” the National Guard report said. — Army mAJ. CHArleS l. tHomAS —
The French 16th Division, which commanded
Fleming was born in Sedalia, Missouri, at the ready been downed by enemy fire — he watched cial segregation in the American command. The
end of World War II. His father had been a mili- it happen. But he searched for the missing patrol French welcomed the regiment that would earn the Hellfighters, quickly recognized the actions of
Johnson and Roberts. The two Soldiers received the
tary pilot, so Fleming naturally grew fascinated anyway, disregarding his own safety while danger- its nickname as the “Hellfighters from Harlem.”
with service and flying. He joined ROTC while he ously low on fuel. Enemy fire crashed through his Fought by only two Soldiers, the regiment’s Croix du Guerre, France’s highest military honor. by 3rd platoon was chosen to be the lead element of situation led the 3rd platoon to triumph over the
The French orders, dated May 16, state Henry
was at Washington State University and, upon chopper’s windshield before he finally found the first battle would otherwise be a footnote in World Johnson “gave a magnificent example of courage KATIE LANGE a task force that had been formed to storm and enemy that day, despite losing more than half of
War I history if not for the scrutiny the all-Black
graduation in 1966, he entered the Air Force to Green Berets wading into the river water, trying and energy.” capture the village of Climbach, France. its men to injury or death. The platoon helped
become a pilot, too. to escape the onslaught following them. regiment faced at the time. They were the first U.S. Soldiers to earn this dis- DoD News Drawing Out the Enemy the task force capture Climbach and push enemy
After weeks of combat patrols, raids and artil-
Fleming was halfway through fixed-wing pi- Fleming found a way to hover his helicopter tinction, and Johnson’s medal included the coveted During World There had been no reconnaissance of the area, troops back to the Siegfried Line.
lot training when a call went out for men to fly right above the riverbank so one of his crew mem- lery barrages, Johnson and his buddy, Pvt. Need- Gold Palm for extraordinary valor. War II, more than a so little was known about the enemy at that Thomas was taken off the front lines. After recu-
ham Roberts, 17, of Trenton, New Jersey, stood
helicopters in Vietnam, so he volunteered. After bers could grab the Green Berets, pulling them watch near a bridge over the Aisne River at Bois From that point on, Johnson was known as Courtesy photo million Black men position. Thomas knew it would be an extremely perating from his many wounds, he returned home
more months of training, he was sent into combat. out of the water one by one. The last man on the d’Hauzy during the night of May 15. “Black Death.” served in the U.S. dangerous mission, so he volunteered to command and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
“I was terribly excited to go,” Fleming said in team practically had to jump into the chopper right The regiment would go on to prove itself in com- military; however, not one of them received the the platoon and ride in the column’s lead vehicle, He was promoted to captain in February 1945.
An enemy patrol with 20 to 24 troops was deter-
an interview with the Veterans History Project. before they took off. mined to eliminate the outpost and take prisoners bat operations through the rest of the war, receiving Medal of Honor during the war or directly after- an M-20 scout car. According to his Medal of The 3rd platoon was awarded the Distinguished
“I wanted to go fly in war.” Despite continued fire in their direction, Flem- back to learn about the American force. the Croix de Guerre for the unit’s actions and 171 ward. Decades later, when a review called that Honor citation, Thomas assumed the village had Unit Citation, making it the first unit attached to
A few months into his tour, Fleming was a first ing made it out of the fray. All seven men on the Around 2 a.m., shots rang out and the sounds individual decorations for heroism. discrepancy into question, Army Maj. Charles a concentration of enemy armored vehicles, and the 103rd Division — and the first Black combat
lieutenant and the aircraft commander of a UH- recon patrol made it out alive, thanks to his un- of wire cutters alerted the two American Soldiers. Johnson would be singled out for his heroism L. Thomas posthumously became one of the first he wanted to draw the enemy’s first strike toward unit — to earn that honor.
1F Iroquois transport helicopter that was part of wavering desire to bring everyone home. Johnson, opening a box of grenades, told Roberts and actions under fire. Former President Theodore Black men from that era to receive the nation’s him instead of the rest of the task force. Thomas stayed in the Army for about two more
About a month later, to run back and alert the main line of defense. But Roosevelt called Johnson one of the five bravest highest medal for valor. As Thomas’ scout car reached high ground years before leaving in August 1947 to return to
Fleming was injured and at that moment, the first enemy grenades landed Americans to serve in World War I. Thomas was born on April 17, 1920, in Birming- southeast of the village, the enemy attacked. civilian life. He married and had two children.
evacuated to Japan. When in their position. The question of whether the African-American ham, Alabama, and he grew up in Detroit. He Artillery and other gunfire from about 700 yards His family returned to Michigan, where Thomas
he returned to Vietnam a Johnson stalled the German patrol with gre- 15th New York Infantry would fight as well as graduated from high school in 1938 and went to away slammed into the vehicle, disabling the car
few months later, he was nades of his own as Roberts was struck down with any other unit was answered in the darkness of work with his father as a molder at a Ford Motor and severely wounding Thomas, who immediately worked as a missile technician at Selfridge Air Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress
Force Base (now Selfridge Air National Guard
surprised to hear he was go- shrapnel wounds to his arm and hip. When out of May 15, 1918. Company plant. He’d also enrolled in Wayne State signaled for the column behind him to stop. Base), before joining the IRS as a computer pro- Army Capt. Charles Thomas received the
ing home — he’d been named grenades, Johnson took up his French rifle. After the war, Johnson and Roberts returned University to study mechanical engineering, but As he tried to help his comrades get to safety, Distinguished Service Cross in February
a recipient of the Medal of “The Labelle rifle carries a magazine clip of home as national heroes. Promoted to sergeant, then the war began, and he was drafted into the Thomas was exposed to enemy machine gun fire, grammer. 1945 from Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Bastion
Honor. but three cartridges,” noted Arthur Little, the 1st Johnson led the New York City parade for the 369th Army on Jan. 20, 1942. Thomas died of cancer on Feb. 15, 1980, in for his service during World War II.
Fleming received the na- Battalion commander, in his 1936 book “From in February 1919. Thomas started his military career in the in- which hit him multiple times in the chest, legs Wayne, Michigan. He is buried there in Westlawn
tion’s highest military award Harlem to the Rhine.” Johnson’s extensive injuries, however, prevented fantry, but he was quickly chosen to attend officer and left arm. Despite the intense pain, Thomas Cemetery.
A Belated Honor
for valor from President “Johnson fired his three shots — the last one his return to any normal civilian life. He had dif- training school. He was commissioned as a second was still able to order the column’s first two M-5 niece, accepted the Medal of Honor on his behalf
Richard Nixon at a ceremony almost muzzle-to-breast of the German bearing ficulty finding work. He died destitute in 1929 and lieutenant on March 11, 1943, then assigned to anti-tank guns into place and direct their fire back In the 1990s, the Army ordered a study on racial from President Bill Clinton during a White House
at the White House on May down upon him. As the German fell, a comrade was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Company C of the 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion. at the enemy within a few minutes. disparities during World War II. It found there ceremony.
14, 1970. jumped over his body, pistol in hand, to avenge Some 97 years after his combat service, the His unit arrived in England in September 1944 Thomas knew his injuries were so bad that were Black service members whose actions were Five other Soldiers posthumously received the
Fleming spent a total of his death. There was no time for reloading. John- Defense Department reviewed Johnson’s records and eventually joined Gen. George Patton’s 3rd he wouldn’t be able to stay in command, so he worthy of the Medal of Honor. Recommendations same upgrade during that ceremony: Staff Sgt.
30 years in the Air Force, son swung his rifle round his head, and brought and recommended him for the Medal of Honor. It Army in France, first seeing combat toward the signaled for the platoon commander to join him. were made to the Pentagon’s Board of Generals Edward A. Carter Jr., 1st Lt. John R. Fox, Pfc.
retiring as a colonel in 1996. it down with a thrown blow upon the head of the was presented by President Barack Obama in 2015. end of November 1944. The battalion was attached Thomas proceeded to get that man up to speed on to upgrade the medals of seven Soldiers from that Willy James Jr., Staff Sgt. Ruben Rivers and Pvt.
He and his wife currently German. The German went down, crying.” “We are a nation — a people — who remember to the 103rd Infantry Division when a 24-year-old the enemy’s gun positions, the platoon’s ammuni- era. Congress had to authorize a statute of limita- George Watson. First Lt. Vernon Baker was the
Air Force photo live in Washington. They had As Johnson looked over to assist Roberts, he saw our heroes,” Obama said during the Medal of Honor Thomas performed the heroics that would put him tion status and the general situation. He refused tions waiver so the men, including Thomas, could only man to receive the honor in person.
in the history books.
to be evacuated until he felt sure the junior officer
Today, we thank these brave men for their sac-
Air Force UH-1F Iroquois helicopters insert special op- three children, including a two Germans lift him up to carry him off toward ceremony at the White House. “We never forget On Dec. 14, 1944, then-1st Lt. Thomas was the would be able to take command successfully. be recognized. rifices and are grateful their actions were finally
son who joined the Marines
On Jan. 13, 1997 — more than 50 years after
their sacrifice, and we believe it’s never too late to
the German lines.
erations teams into Cambodia during the Vietnam War. and served in Afghanistan. “Our men were unanimous in the opinion that say, ‘Thank you.’” commanding officer of Company C. The company’s Thomas’ personal courage and grasp of the the battle in Climbach — Sarah Johnson, Thomas’ met with the honor they deserved.