While on observation post duty on the night of May 14, 1918 in the Argonne Forest, Private Henry Johnson and another soldier of Company C, 369th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division, AEF came under attack by a large German raiding party.
Outnumbered and outgunned, Johnson began using grenades, the butt of his rifle, and his bare fists against the oncoming enemy. Despite receiving 21 wounds in the process, Private Johnson continued fighting, wielding his Bolo knife and eliminating multiple enemies, including stabbing it through an enemy soldier’s head. His actions not only decimated the attack to the point of retreat, but also prevented his fellow soldier from being captured by the enemy after being severely wounded. This act of valor earned him the nickname of "Black Death", as a sign of respect for his prowess in combat.
He survived the war and passed away in 1929 at the age of 36.
For his actions in the forest, The French government awarded Johnson the Croix de Guerre with special citation and a golden palm.This was France's highest award for bravery and he was the first American to receive it..that was it.
Only in 1996, he was awarded the Purple Heart, then he was awarded the DSC in 2005 and finally, it was upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2015. #stayzero #zerofoxtrot #ww1