After years of effort, a Capital Region military hero is getting a prestigious award.
On June 2nd, President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Albany Army Private Henry Johnson “for conspicuous gallantry during World War I.”
Johnson served as a member of Company C, 369th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division, American Expeditionary Forces. The White House announced the news Thursday after a renewed push for the recognition by Sen. Charles Schumer and others in recent years.
While in France on night sentry duty on May 15, 1918, Private Johnson and a fellow soldier were caught up in a surprise attack by a 12-soldier German raiding party. While under intense enemy fire and despite receiving significant wounds, Johnson mounted a brave retaliation resulting in several enemy casualties. Johnson prevented his fellow soldier from being taken prisoner and engaged an enemy soldier in hand-to-hand combat. Johnson singlehandedly held back the enemy force until they retreated.
