The U.S. Senate has passed legislation that would allow the president to consider awarding a posthumous Medal of Honor to Sgt. Henry Johnson, a World War I hero from upstate New York.
Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, the bill's co-sponsor, says Friday that his measure passed unanimously Thursday. It now goes to the House for a vote. If approved, the legislation goes to the president for consideration.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel last month recommended awarding Johnson the nation's highest military decoration for bravery in combat.
The decision came after years of effort by Schumer and others to get Johnson the medal. The rail station porter from Albany was serving in an all-black infantry regiment when he saved a fellow soldier from capture during a German attack in France in 1918.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press
