Private Henry Johnson was an African American soldier who served in the United States Army during World War I. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 1892 and grew up in Albany, New York.
Johnson joined the Army in 1917 and was assigned to the 369th Infantry Regiment, an all-black unit known as the Harlem Hellfighters. He and his unit were sent to France to fight in the war.
On May 14, 1918, Johnson and another soldier were on sentry duty when they were attacked by a group of German soldiers. Despite being severely wounded, Johnson fought off the attackers with his rifle and a bolo knife, killing several of them and saving his comrade's life.
Johnson's bravery earned him the French Croix de Guerre, one of France's highest military honors. He was also awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Cross, the latter being upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2015 by President Barack Obama.
After the war, Johnson returned to the United States and was honored with a parade in New York City. However, he struggled to find work and suffered from his war injuries. He died in 1929 at the age of 36 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Private Henry Johnson's heroism and sacrifice for his country serves as an inspiration to many and his memory is honored to this day.
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