Page 12 - Black History Month 2022 - Combined Special Edition of Aerotech News and Review — Nellis AFB - Creech AFB Desert Lightning News

Henry Johnson:

Hero of the Harlem Hellfighters recognized decades later

by Bob Alvis
special to Aerotech News
Black History Month is observed each year, with stories of
achievements and sacrifice of those across history from Black com-
munities around the world.
We see these stories highlighted in various media formats, remind-
ing us how much we owe the Black community when it comes to the
many great accomplishments they have bestowed upon society. Being
the military storyteller that likes to reflect on the significance of such
things, I was drawn to a solitary statue that stands in a New York
park to tell my story this month, which has my soul in some turmoil.
The bust of a man with a distant look atop a marble monument
gazes out over an Albany city park, in the heat of the summer and
the cold of the winter, to remind us of the ups and downs of his life’s National Guard painting by H. Charles McBarron
journey. How easy it is to forget a man who, for a brief time, inspired In this National Guard historic painting by H. Charles McBarron,
a nation with his heroics, while at the same time dealing with a world Soldiers of the 369th Infantry Regiment, the Harlem Hellfighters,
that struggled with its humanity. go into action near Sechault, France, on Sept. 29, 1918, during
Pvt. Henry Johnson, a 5-foot-4-inch soldier weighing 130 pounds, the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Originally the 15th New York from
was just one of the men in the all-Black 369th Infantry regiment Harlem, the center of African American culture in the early 20th
serving during World War I. African Americans in World War I, century, the unit earned the nickname Hellfighters from its German
especially here in America, were dealing with acceptance issues, as enemies. While the nickname has been used for more than 100
the evil aspect of racism was keeping the very best of our country years — currently by the 369th Sustainment Brigade — it was
wondering what it would take to be accepted by the nation they called only officially recognized by the Army in September 2020.
home. Henry Johnson saw an opportunity, as did many others, when Sadly, the America he left was not much different upon his return,
they were given the chance to fight as American soldiers in a far-off and the line “All glory is fading,” had him facing the grim reality that
land overseas. The Harlem Hellfighters, as they came to be known, earning lasting respect was still going to be a battle of a different
trained as American soldiers and became a very poised and polished kind, in a country that still had a long way to go in its fight for civil
group of warfighters. As Army soldiers, they looked forward to earn-
ing the respect of their fellow American combatants on the battlefields rights — let alone taking care of its combat veterans.
Johnson did return from France to America as a war hero and
of France. rose to the rank of sergeant in the Army. Life after the war was short
Sadly, when it came
time to deploy to Eu- and sad for him. Suffering from ongoing issues due to the many
rope, the narrow-mind- war injuries he had sustained and lacking any military benefits for
ed command structures Courtesy photograph those injuries, Johnson was unable to hold a job and fell into poverty.
of our nation were still This statue of Sgt. Henry Johnson sits in Washington Park in Worse yet, his military discharge paperwork somehow did not contain
being influenced by the Albany, N.Y. any record of the numerous injuries he had suffered while serving his
bigotry of the times, and country and the allies, so neither aid nor recognition was available
a mindset that did not tually killed many soldiers in the unit. Yet they did succeed and, in to him. Sgt. William Henry Johnson died a little more than a decade
want white troops shar- recognition of that important day when the French 93rd and its many after returning from the western front of World War I, a mostly for-
ing foxholes with men African American soldiers held off the Germans, Johnson was the gotten war hero who was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in
of color. Faced with a first U.S. soldier of World War I to be awarded the Croix de Guerre, Virginia after his passing on July 1, 1929.
shortage of soldiers, and France’s highest military award for valor. A story like this can leave an individual numb, as the heartbreak
needing every man who During the assault, the heart of Henry showed what an incred- of the outcome leaves one pondering how such an inspirational story
was willing and able to ible soldier he was. He lived up to the mottos of military service can end up so badly. Way too many years later the medals and the
fight, the 396th Harlem “No soldier left behind” and “I’ve got your back” when his watch recognition came, as the Purple Heart and the Congressional Medal
Hellfighters shipped out partner, Pvt. Needham Roberts, was wounded. When the attacking of Honor were awarded to Sgt. Johnson posthumously, but that sure
to serve with the French German soldiers attempted to take Roberts prisoner, Johnson rescued does not take away from the headache of his life upon his return from
army, who had no prob- Courtesy photograph him, sustaining even more wounds than he already had. Johnson and that brutal war, in the country he served with honor.
lem serving alongside Then-Pvt. Henry Johnson of the Harlem Roberts held on, with Johnson continuing to fight and protect his So now my story here circles back to that statue in the New York
the Black American Hellfighters. fallen comrade. park that bears his name, and how it reminds us of where we were
soldiers. Wearing their It’s been said that nobody ever wakes up in the morning and says, and how far future generations will need to go to continue to right
American uniforms and issued French rifles, they called themselves “I’m going to become a hero today.” I’m sure from Harlem to the the wrongs of the past. Lately, statues have become somewhat of a
the “Black Rattlers” and the French dubbed them “Men of Bronze”. battlefront, Johnson never thought that the day would come when he rally point of protest to the plight that many Americans have suffered
The Army officially recognized the unit by what the enemy called would return to the United States alive, much less a war hero. When in our nation’s history. In my opinion the subject matter of statues is
them in World War I — the Harlem Hellfighters. They fought the his unit returned from France to a hero’s welcome home parade, he important and needs to be shared with future generations, so as to edu-
German army with such skill and determination, that it wasn’t long was riding at the front as the community showed their appreciation cate our nation about the struggles we will always have to overcome
before their foe gave the outfit its famous nickname, along with many for his service and gallantry — never dreaming of what the end of as a free nation. The statue of Johnson is looking at us, and I wonder
others. his military service would look like. how many of us take the time to look at him and say we’re not perfect,
World War I had a brutality to it like no other war. That’s not but your presence here and your story
saying other wars were not brutal — it’s just the fact that the trench remind us we have a lot more work to
warfare of that time period was at a turning point. Weaponry for kill- do, and it takes heroes like you to show
ing was becoming more dramatic and lethal, and was used in a very us the way.
inhumane manner. The horrors of war were made manifest in ways
the human race could never have imagined. I pray we can continue to make
In the middle of all this carnage was our American Soldier Pvt. positive changes in peaceful ways, as
Henry Johnson, who would, in a moment in time, perform the acts we share the stories of the many great
that would end with his likeness in the form of a statue looking out African Americans that gave so much
over America from a New York park, commemorating for the nation to this country over our history. Going
and the world the heart and soul of the American soldier. forward, they deserve timely recogni-
During the battle that took place on May 15, 1918, in the Argonne tion during their living years, in this
Forest at the bridge over the Aisne River, Pvt. Johnson went to ex- country that belongs to all of us.
treme measures to protect his unit, rescue an injured soldier, and I salute Sgt. Henry Johnson, the
defend the crossing in a courageous effort. brave men of the 369th Harlem Hell-
After his grenades failed to stop the approaching enemy forces, he fighters and all the African Americans
single-handedly used the butt of his rifle, his bolo knife, and even his that served our nation past and present,
hands, killing five German soldiers and wounding many others, as Courtesy photograph bringing honor to our nation by wear- Courtesy photograph
well as rescuing one of his own unit members from being captured. ing its uniform. Sgt. Henry Johnson’s
Through it all, Johnson sustained 21 wounds, including being shot Pvt. Henry Johnson is welcomed home following his service in Peace, my friends and until next grave at Arlington National
World War I.
Cemetery in Virginia.
numerous times, as he fought off the Germans in a battle that even- time, Bob out …
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