Obama honors two WWI Soldiers with Medals of Honor [Image 9 of 10]

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES

06.02.2015

Photo by Staff Sgt. Bernardo Fuller 

Under Secretary of the Army

President Barack Obama bestows the Medal of Honor to Army Sgt. Henry Johnson, accepting on his behalf is Command Sgt. Maj. Louis Wilson, of the New York National Guard, in the East Room of the White House, June 2, 2015. Then-Pvt. Johnson, an African-American, distinguished himself as a member of 369th Infantry Regiment "Harlem Hellfighters", 93rd Division, American Expeditionary Forces, during combat operations against the enemy on the front lines of the Western Front in France during World War I. While on night sentry duty, May 15, 1918, Johnson and a fellow Soldier, Pvt. Needham Roberts, received a surprise attack by a German raiding party consisting of at least 12 soldiers. While under intense enemy fire and despite receiving significant wounds, Johnson mounted a brave retaliation resulting in several enemy casualties. When his fellow Soldier was badly wounded, Johnson prevented him from being taken prisoner by German forces. Wielding only a knife and being seriously wounded, Johnson continued fighting, took his Bolo knife and stabbed it through an enemy soldier's head. Displaying great courage, Johnson held back the enemy force until they retreated. The “Harlem Hellfighters“ were the first all-black regiment that helped change the American public's opinion on African-American Soldiers and helped pave the way for future African-American Soldiers. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Bernardo Fuller/Released)

• Date Taken: 06.02.2015
• Date Posted: 06.02.2015 20:24
• Photo ID: 1970420
• VIRIN: 150602-A-AJ780-002
• Resolution: 3719x2475
• Size: 5.41 MB
• Location: WASHINGTON, DC, US
• Hometown: ALBANY, NY, US
• Hometown: BAYONNE, NJ, US
• Hometown: BRONX, NY, US
• Hometown: WINSTON SALEM, NC, US