Congressmen push Medal of Honor award for Harlem Hellfighter Sergeant Henry Johnson posthumous :

It is about time this American hero got the recognition that he deserves; although it was a long time coming and way overdue.

The Medal of Honor is awarded to military personal who exhibit extreme valor in wartime efforts. However, for many years, minority soldiers, such as Sgt. Henry Johnson, have been denied the distinction. Extremely unfair.

As black teen in the segregated South, Henry Johnson relocated to Albany, N.Y. where he worked various odd jobs before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1917, shortly after the U.S. declared war on Germany.

Johnson’s story of heroics became legendary during WW I one night when while on patrol when a German battalion raided his camp, leaving Johnson with more than 20 gunshot wounds. What a hell of a man. Despite his injuries, Johnson almost single-handedly fought off his attackers armed only with a rifle and a bolo knife, using the rifle as a club once it had run out of bullets.

Johnson put four Krauts underground and disabled at least 20 others, who retreated.

His division, the 369^th Regiment, or Harlem Hellfighters, was one of the most successful units in the war, never losing any ground during their entire deployment. In spite of the battalion’s military prowess, American soldiers refused to work with the all-black unit, and the Hellfighters were led by French allies instead.

For his heroics, Johnson was awarded one of the French government’s highest honors, the Croix de Guerre. The still heavily segregated U.S., however, gave Johnson only a chauffeured car in New York’s victory parade in 1919—no awards or military benefits. What a shame.

There were many “colored people” way back when that did not receive the accolades that they deserved.  We cannot rectify the past but certainly we can change the future if we all ban together as Americans and do what is right for one another .

Unfortunately, Johnson died destitute, estranged from his family and still unrecognized for his service. Hopefully that will be resolved very soon.

There is a law on the books that congress is trying to change where a person cannot be recognized for their bravery after 5 years has passed. The way they move, it should take them about 20 years or so to come to a decision.

If a person was a hero of any kind, there should not be a statute of limitations placed on their acknowledging their heroics.

Salute to Sergeant Henry Johnson; American hero!!!