Henry Johnson was born in Alexandria VA, in 1897. He moved to Albany, NY and enlisted in the all-black New York National Guard of the 15th New York Infantry. When the unit was called up into federal service it became part of the 369th Infantry Regiment, based in New York City.
As a member of the Company C, 369th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division, A.E.F. he saw combat in France during World War I for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
The citation reads:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Henry Johnson, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in France during the period 13 - 15 May 1918.
Private Johnson distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force.
While on a double sentry night duty, Private Johnson and a fellow soldier were attacked by a raiding party of Germans numbering almost twenty, wounding both. When the Germans were within fighting distance, he opened fire, shooting one of them and seriously wounding two more. The Germans continued to advance, and as they were about to be captured Private Johnson drew his bolo knife from his belt and attacked the Germans in a hand-to-hand encounter. Even though having sustained three grenade and shotgun wounds from the star, Private Johnson went to the rescue of his fellow soldier who was being taken prisoner by the enemy. He kept on fighting until the Germans were chased away.
Private Johnson’s personal courage and total disregard for his own life reflect great credit upon himself, the 369th United States Infantry Regiment, the United States Army, and the United States of America.
Henry Johnson was also the first American to be awarded the Croix de Guerre with Gold palm by the French government.
A monument to Henry Johnson is topped by a bust of Sergeant Johnson from the mid-chest up. He is wearing a World War I army uniform with cap. The shirt has with medals pinned on his right side.
Below is a granite pedestal flanked by two granite side tablets. At the base is a inscribed granite block.
The central panel of the pedestal is inscribed:
THE BATTLE OF HENRY JOHNSON
FIRST AMERICAN AWARDED
CROIX DE GUERRE
WITH
GOLD PALM
FOR
VALOR
-IN MEMORY OF-
SERGEANT HENRY LINCOLN JOHNSON
ALBANY, NEW YORK
FOR UNCOMMON VALOR IN COMBAT
AGAINST AN ARMED ENEMY MAY 14TH, 1918
WHILE SERVING WITH COMPANY C
369TH INFANTRY REGIMENT
PART OF U. S. EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
DURING WORLD WAR I
ASSIGNED TO THE FOURTH FRENCH ARMY
AWARDED THE CROIX DE GUERRE BY FRANCE
DEDICATED
THIS 11TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 1991
AT ALBANY, NEW YORK
PRESIDENT WILLIAM CLINTON
DIRECTED THE AWARD OF
THE PURPLE HEART
TO
HENRY JOHNSON
ON 25 JUNE 1996
SEVENTY-EIGHT YEARS FOLLOWING THE ACTION
The left panel is inscribed:
369TH US
INFANTRY
FORMERLY
15TH INFANTRY NEW YORK GUARD
KNOWN BY THE ENEMY AS
"THE HELLFIGHTERS"
REGIMENT AWARDED
THE FOLLOWING
BATTLE STREAMERS
CHAMPAGNE
CHAMPAGNE - MARNE
MEUSE - ARGONNE
ALSACE
________________
CROIXE DE GUERRE
WITH
SILVER STAR
25 JULY 1917 28 FEBRUARY 1919
The right panel is inscribed:
FIRST ALLIED REGIMENT
TO REACH THE RHINE
NEVER LOST A MAN CAPTURED,
A TRENCH OR A FOOT OF GROUND
191 DAYS IN COMBAT
LONGEST OF ANY AMERICAN UNIT
367 MEN KILLED IN ACTION
1097 MEN WOUNDED IN ACTION
171 FRENCH DECORATIONS FOR BRAVERY
The granite block at the base is inscribed:
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS GREETING
THIS TO CERTIFY THAT
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
HAS AWARDED THE
PURPLE HEART
ESTABLISHED BY GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON
AT NEWBURGH NEW YORK AUGUST 7 1782
TO
HENRY JOHNSON
THEN SERGEANT UNITED STATES ARMY
FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED
IN ACTION
IN WORLD WAR I ON 14 MAY 1918
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON
THIS 25TH DAY OF JUNE 1996