A Soldier's Story: Sergeant William Henry Johnson - WWI



Sergeant William Henry Johnson was believed to have been born on July 15, 1892, in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He went north to New York City and worked as a redcap porter until WWI. On July 15, 1917, he enlisted into the New York National Guard, 15th Infantry Regiment, in response to World War I.

Ultimately absorbed into the 369th Infantry Division, which came to be known as the "Harlem Hellfighters," General Pershing "loaned" them to France's 161st division.

On May 14, 1918, while on guard duty at Outpost 20 in the Argonne Forest, Sergeant  William Henry Johnson came under attack by a raiding party of approximately 24 enemy soldiers. Sergeant Johnson earned the name "Black Death" that day by ultimately winning the confrontation using grenades, his rifle butt, a bolo knife, and his fists. He survived with more than 21 wounds. His story was told in a Saturday Evening Post article, "Young Black Joe."

After his enlistment, he briefly joined a lecture tour, but after Sergeant William Henry Johnson honestly spoke on the racism within the trenches, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Sergeant William Henry Johnson acquired tuberculosis and died on July 1, 1929, and rests at Arlington. The American Legion has called him one of the five bravest Americans in World War I.



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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to her travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

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Location: Tallahassee, FL, USA

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