SCHUMER CALLS FOR UPDATE ON HIS EFFORT TO SECURE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR WWI HERO, SERGEANT HENRY JOHNSON, AHEAD OF 95THANNIVERSARY OF BATTLE OF HENRY JOHNSON
Schumer Has Long Fought In Support of Award For Henry Johnson & Has Pushed Petition to Provide Extra Boost Necessary to Honor His Legacy – Pushes for Answers From the Army Ideally in Time for The 95th Anniversary of Battle of Henry Johnson
Schumer’s Effort Comes Nearly Two Years After He Officially Presented New Evidence Uncovered by His Office; Sgt. Johnson Resided in Albany and Fought Bravely in WWI
Schumer: Feds Should Not Wait Another Day to Honor Henry Johnson’s Heroism
With the 95th Anniversary of the Battle of Henry Johnson fast approaching, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer renewed his push for the Army to expeditiously award the Medal of Honor to the late World War I hero, Sgt. Henry Johnson, and asked the U.S. Army for an update on the case’s status. In his letter to U.S. Army Secretary John McHugh, Schumer stressed that this anniversary marks an appropriate time to acknowledge Sgt. Henry Johnson for his bravery and distinguished service to our country. Schumer also applauded Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) for joining his push and signing on to the letter to Sec. McHugh.
“The federal government should not wait another day to honor Sgt. Johnson’s heroism during World War I with the Medal of Honor,” said Schumer. “I am calling on the U.S. Army to provide an update on Henry Johnson’s case that has been pending for far too long. The 95th anniversary of the Battle of Henry Johnson on May 15thwould serve as an appropriate day to posthumously honor him with the Medal of Honor, and that is why I am asking the Secretary of the Army to expeditiously provide information about this Capital Region hero’s legacy.”
Schumer has consistently expressed his support for Sgt. Johnson to receive the Medal of Honor. The decision-makers include the Secretary of the Army, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Secretary of Defense, and President of the United States. In March 2011, Schumer and his staff revealed that they had uncovered game-changing evidence to support the posthumous award of the military’s highest honor to Sgt. Johnson. In May 2011, Schumer submitted a nearly-1300 page request for reconsideration, which included a wealth of never-considered evidence containing the incontestable proof showing that Johnson deserves this award. And last October, Schumer launched an online petition in support of Henry Johnson’s heroics during World War I, while Schumer uncovered additional evidence in support of Johnson’s candidacy for the Medal.
Last October in Albany, Schumer was joined by local veterans and elected officials in his unveiling of this national online petition and in providing an official list of more additional evidence than has previously been made public, all of which has been discovered by Schumer and his office in the past two years. Despite these discoveries, however, the case remains pending. Last year, Schumer appeared in an episode of PBS’ History Detectives that featured a painting depicting the Battle of Henry Johnson. This painting is contained in Schumer’s new recommendation, and he stated that this serves as even further proof of Johnson’s worthiness for the Medal of Honor.
While on duty around 12AM on May 15, 1918, then-Private Johnson, a volunteer with the New York National Guard serving under French command due to segregation, came under attack by a well-trained and well-armed German raider party of about two dozen. Despite his severe injuries, including sustaining an estimated 21 gunshot wounds, Johnson continued fighting bravely, with total disregard for his own safety. He fought off the Germans and rescued one of his fellow soldiers with just a rifle (which jammed), a bolo knife and his bare hands. Sgt. Johnson, an Albany resident and African-American soldier serving in a segregated Army, received the Croix de Guerre with Gold Palm, one of the French military’s highest honors, for his bravery in battle during World War I.
Years later, in concert with Sgt. Johnson’s activists, including the late John Howe, a Vietnam veteran, Schumer helped secure the second-highest American military honor for Johnson, the Distinguished Service Cross, in 2003. On May 15, 2011, Schumer submitted a nearly 1300-page recommendation urging the Army to reconsider the case for the Medal of Honor in light of compelling and newly discovered evidence. Schumer’s package contains a plethora of new documents, including the ultimate chain-of-command endorsement from WWI Commander of the war in Europe General John Pershing; an eyewitness account of Johnson’s brave actions during the battle from the man Johnson saved, Pvt. Neadom Roberts; and a letter detailing and praising Johnson from his Regiment commander, Colonel William Hayward. However, despite these supporting documents, submitted more than a year ago, the case has yet to be decided.
There are several specific forms of evidence required in order to present a Medal of Honor to a member of the U.S. military. One requirement is a chain-of-command endorsement, which is met by the statement from General John Pershing; it was written as a memo on May 20, 1918, from Pershing to officials in Washington, D.C. The memo provides a variety of updates of the warfront in France, and immediately highlights details related to what many historians now refer to as the “Battle of Henry Johnson.”
Senator Schumer’s colleague Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) recently joined in support of Senator Schumer’s pursuit of this Medal of Honor for Henry Johnson. A copy of their letter appears below:
Dear Secretary McHugh:
We are writing to request an update on the case of Sergeant Henry Johnson, a World War I soldier who fought bravely and deserves the Medal of Honor for his heroism.
As a member of the “Harlem Hellfighters” that served under French command during World War I, Sergeant Johnson was the first American to receive the Croix de Guerre Ave Palme. Although he was not officially recognized for gallantry during his lifetime, Sergeant Johnson was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Cross Award in 2003, which Senator Schumer helped to secure. In light of the evidence that was presented in March 2011 and all subsequent evidence presented by Senator Schumer, we believe that the U.S. government should take further action to recognize Sergeant Johnson.
As you may know, Sergeant Johnson and Private Needham Roberts—both African American soldiers from the 369th Infantry Regiment—fought valiantly in the Battle of Henry Johnson. Sergeant Johnson used his rifle as a club to beat enemy soldiers while fighting to save Private Roberts from capture and continued to fight until the Germans retreated. Two years ago, Senator Schumer submitted new evidence to corroborate the historical record. These materials included a communiqué from General John Pershing detailing the battle and noting that Sergeant Johnson should be recognized for his bravery and an eyewitness account from Colonel William Hayward, Sergeant Johnson’s commanding officer.
May 15th of this year will mark the 95th anniversary of the Battle of Henry Johnson. We believe there is no better date to appropriately acknowledge Sergeant Henry Johnson for his bravery and distinguished service to our country. We therefore ask you to provide us an update on Sergeant Johnson’s case and we hope you will work with us to honor this American hero.