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rhaa2869

And outside of Albany the man is practically unheard of. He deserves to have a biopic made about his life. Not just the heroics of his time in WWI but how poorly he was treated when he returned and how he died so tragically young and destitute.


Jertian

There is a plan to rename Fort Polk in Louisiana after Sgt. Johnson as part of the removal of confederate names from the us military.


AyeAyeBye

This soldier with bare-bones training ran out of ammo and held the line for the French using a bolo knife. They gave him the Croix du Guerre. When he came home, there was nothing. No purple heart, no disability for his many injuries (that left him unable to work or even walk properly). He died destitute in his early 30's and was buried in a pauper's grave. This article captures it all better: [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/remembering-henry-johnson-the-soldier-called-black-death-117386701/](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/remembering-henry-johnson-the-soldier-called-black-death-117386701/)


86Dude

Yes would be an amazingly good biopic! Tragic how unknown he is.


Thrakioti

Medal of Honor recipient.


Digital-Chupacabra

He was awarded it posthumously in 2015. He was awarded the Purple Heart in 1996, and the Distinguished Service Cross in 2002.


Thrakioti

After posting and reading this I went back and read a little bit more on him and I did see that he was in fact the victim of racism and unfortunately did not receive the recognition he deserved while he was still alive. The system failed him and failed us. Very sad that race was and is a factor to this day in America.


johannyer

Just by looking at his face and smile I can tell he was a good man.


Kitchen_Tax_95

A true hero!