Could Leonidas Polk possibly be rolling in his grave at this very moment? Well, if he is, then let him roll to his heart’s content. Gone is the name of the Confederate general from a Louisiana military base, now replaced by the illustrious World War I hero, Henry Johnson, a Black man who fought against the very oppression that the Confederates so vehemently pursued in their quest to dissolve the union.
Sgt. Johnson is undoubtedly more deserving of this honor than Mr. Polk ever was, even if all he had done was fight for his country instead of against it. But, the qualities possessed by Sgt. Johnson go much deeper than that. They transcend the acts of bravery that ultimately led to his overdue Medal of Honor recognition in 2015.
Typically, the narrative surrounding Henry Johnson is framed as follows: he was a war hero, and then, because he was Black, America conveniently forgot about him. However, there is more to his story than meets the eye. Let us start with the basics.
William Henry Johnson belonged to a Black regiment that, due to the Army’s segregation policies, was placed under French command. In 1918, during one eventful night, Johnson, a private at the time, found himself on sentry duty when a German raiding party ambushed him. Armed only with grenades, bullets, a rifle butt, and a bolo knife, he singlehandedly repelled the 20-man squad, despite sustaining multiple wounds. Most importantly, he ensured the safety of his injured comrade by preventing his capture.
This incredible encounter has since come to be known as “The Battle of Henry Johnson.” The French authorities recognized Johnson’s bravery by awarding him the Croix de Guerre with Gold Palm, making him the first American to receive such an honor.
Upon Sgt. Johnson’s arrival in New York Harbor on his ship, a journalist from the Knickerbocker Press of Albany eagerly conducted the first interview. The newspaper vividly described Johnson as a “small, modest” man with scars and the welt of battle prominently displayed on his person. The heroic soldier received a well-deserved hero’s welcome, with splashy front-page stories, a grand parade in Harlem, and the governor and mayor of Albany personally greeting him upon his arrival. Enthusiastic crowds greeted him wherever he went, and even President Woodrow Wilson extended his regards. A “Johnson Fund” was even established to raise money for him and his family to purchase a house in Albany.
Sgt. Johnson’s heroism, along with the bravery of his regiment, the Harlem Hellfighters, made him an emblem for Black America during the oppressive era of Jim Crow. Civil rights activists had actively encouraged Black soldiers to enlist in the Great War, believing that their patriotism and courage would potentially lead to improved treatment. The New York World published an opinion piece, which was subsequently reprinted across the nation, that highlighted Johnson’s story and questioned the American people’s tolerance for racial violence in the face of countless Black soldiers fighting for civilization under the American flag.
However, Sgt. Johnson’s value as a symbol extended beyond the Black community. White Americans also utilized his popularity for their own purposes. The government cleverly capitalized on his fame to promote Victory Stamps, using slogans like “Henry Johnson Licked a Dozen Germans. How many Stamps have You Licked?” While white Americans admired him for his accomplishments, there remained a perceptible boundary that could not be crossed. They marveled at his achievements while often subtly expressing astonishment that a Black man could achieve so much. Their admiration, though genuine, had its limitations. And unfortunately, Henry Johnson would soon discover those limitations firsthand.
During a speaking engagement in St. Louis, Missouri, in March of 1919, Sgt. Johnson deviated from his assigned script to passionately criticize the racial prejudice he had experienced from his fellow white soldiers. He voiced his thoughts on how white marines refused to fight alongside Black soldiers and recounted an incident where a white officer suggested sending Black men to the front lines to rid New York of their presence. Unsurprisingly, it was a bitter speech. Johnson questioned the bravery of white soldiers and even stated that if he were white, he would be the next governor of New York.
However, this courageous act proved to be his downfall. Other Black dignitaries on the stage distanced themselves from Johnson, and The St. Louis Argus, a Black newspaper, ran the headline: “HENRY JOHNSON’S SPEECH INSULTS COLISEUM CROWD.” An event organizer claimed that “he did us more harm than good.”
News coverage of the speech caught the attention of the Military Intelligence Division, which began investigating whether Johnson could be charged with inciting a riot. The division’s “Negro Subversion” unit chief labeled Johnson as “densely ignorant” and suffering from a severe case of a “swelled head.” As a result, Johnson was stripped of his right to wear his uniform and became placed under surveillance. His speaking engagements swiftly diminished.
Unable to work as a railroad porter due to his foot injury, Johnson’s life took a downward spiral. He suffered a divorce and succumbed to alcoholism at the young age of 32. Tragically, he never realized his dream of owning a house.
In 1925, the Army War College released a memo on “the use of negro man power in war,” which derogatorily referred to the African American community as mentally inferior and characteristically weak. The memo firmly concluded that Black soldiers were inferior fighters compared to their white counterparts, even when led by white officers.
Given Sgt. Johnson’s unwavering commitment to not only confronting enemy soldiers but also battling the deep-seated racism prevalent in his homeland, it is only fitting that his name now supersedes that of a Confederate traitor on what is currently known as the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Johnson. The obstacles he faced were not limited to the battlefield but encompassed the bigotry ingrained within a nation. Though it proved to be an overwhelming challenge, he fought valiantly until the end.
So, here’s a revised summary of Sgt. Johnson’s extraordinary story: He was an exemplary war hero, and subsequently, due to his courageous attempt to speak out against racism, the very racism found on American soil accomplished what the Germans could not—it tragically ended the life of Henry Johnson.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
