New York's Senator
CHARLES E. SCHUMER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 18, 2001

ARMY RECOMMENDS MEDAL OF HONOR FOR WORLD WAR I HERO HENRY JOHNSON

Schumer says last major hurdle is overcome in effort to gain posthumous recognition for Albany veteran's heroism

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today said that the US Army is recommending that Sgt. Henry Johnson posthumously receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism during World War I. The Army's recommendation now goes to the Secretary of Defense and President for their signatures.

"The effort to obtain this honor for Henry Johnson is not just about ensuring that his heroism is formally acknowledged by the American people," Schumer said. "It is also about ensuring that black soldiers who were denied equal treatment during their service in our nation's once segregated army are not denied recognition for their achievements and valor."

"I can only hope that justice will finally prevail. Henry Johnson is a true American war hero who has quite obviously been denied his appropriate recognition solely due to his race," said Rep. Mike McNulty. "Nearly 1.5 million African-Americans served in World War I and World War II. Of this total, only one African-American service member from World War I and seven African-American service members from World War II have received the Congressional Medal of Honor."

Johnson, an Albany native, served in the US Army from 1917 to 1919 but was not allowed to fight in an American combat unit overseas because he was an African-American. Seeking to serve his country, he joined a group of African American soldiers which came to be known as the "Harlem Hell-Fighters" who fought under the French flag. While on sentry duty on May 14, 1918, Johnson singlehandedly fought off a German raider party with rifle fire and hand-to hand combat. Despite sustaining 21 wounds, he kept his critically-injured sentry partner, Needham Roberts, from being captured by the Germans.

For his heroism, Johnson received France's highest decoration of bravery, the Croix de Guerre with Gold palm, and former President Teddy Roosevelt called him one of the five bravest men of World War I in his book Into the Line. Although the US Army has used Johnson's name and likeness in recruiting ads, his bravery remains unrecognized by the United States.

Since coming to the Senate in 1998, Schumer has made Henry Johnson's cause a mission, lobbying both the Department of Defense and the Department of the Army in an effort to obtain the Medal of Honor. Schumer said that Johnson's son Herman, a veteran of the famous Tuskeegee Airmen in World War II, wants to see his father honored within his lifetime. In a conversation today with Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera, Schumer learned that the Army is recommending that Johnson receive the overdue honor.

"It has been over 80 years since World War I but Henry Johnson has yet to receive the official recognition that his heroism demanded and his memory deserves," Schumer said. "We are now one step away from obtaining this recognition and finishing this long journey. I hope that the Army's recommendation is officially adopted as soon as possible."

"It is high time to recognize Sergeant Johnson and the contributions he made,"said McNulty.
"I am most grateful to have been associated the effort to obtain recognition for an African American who was denied not only his place in our nation's great history, but his place as a hero for the poor and down trodden. His place as a patriot who cared for the safety of his comrades more than himself is now guaranteed to be forever more remembered in the halls of honor," said John Howe, historian of the 369^th Veterans Association Albany Division.

Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings said "I want to applaud Senator Schumer for his persistent efforts to secure the Medal of Honor for Sgt. Henry Johnson. Today's news is good news for all of us who have cared about securing this Capital Region's place among our nation's heros."

Assemblyman John J. McEneny, an Albany historian said, "I rejoice at the news that Henry Johnson is so close to receiving the honor he has always deserved. We should never put time limits on justice. My predecessor, Dick Conners, started the effort to obtain the Medal of Honor for Henry Johnson and Dick, is no doubt, resting more easily now that his goal is so close to being achieved."

Congress made the Medal of Honor a permanent decoration in 1863 and is the highest honor bestowed upon American soldiers. According to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the decoration has been awarded 3,427 times to individuals who committed acts of bravery far above and beyond the call of duty.

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