Schumer Introduces Critical Legislation to Clear the Way for Medal of Honor for WWI Hero Sgt. Henry Johnson

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he has introduced legislation that would allow the President to be able to consider the application for the late World War I hero and Albany resident, Sgt. Henry Johnson, to receive a Medal of Honor. Schumer has led the fight to get Sgt. Henry Johnson, an African-American WWI hero, the Medal of Honor he has long been denied, due to segregation, but deserves for his bravery and heroism during WWI. After years of urging the Department of Defense to recommend a Medal of Honor for Johnson, Defense Secretary Hagel officially made the recommendation last month. Under current law, however, a Medal of Honor must be awarded within five years of the heroic act being recognized, so before the President is able to consider the application Schumer submitted on Johnson's behalf, the Senate must pass legislation specifically allowing Sgt. Johnson's case to be considered. Schumer's legislation has bipartisan support and is being introduced with Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) as original cosponsors. Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY) is introducing a companion bill in the House. Schumer said he will fight to pass this legislation as quickly as possible so we can right a nearly century-old wrong.

"Today I am introducing legislation that is the final step toward putting the request for Sgt. Henry Johnson's long-awaited, much-deserved, Medal of Honor on the President's desk. Johnson, who was denied this high honor after his heroic acts in WWI because of segregation, is an American hero who displayed the most profound battlefield bravery. We are close to the finish line, but the work is not yet done. This legislation has bi-partisan support, and I am urging my colleagues in Congress to pass it so we can right this nearly century-old wrong," said Schumer. "This legislation will enable Johnson to be exempted from the current Medal of Honor rules, which prevent anyone from receiving the Medal of Honor whose heroic act took place more than five years ago. Johnson should have received this recognition 95 years ago, and providing an exemption for him now is the right thing to do. I will work with my colleagues to get this measure passed as soon as possible, and I will not stop pushing until the President has signed off and Johnson gets the recognition he deserves."

Sergeant Henry Johnson, an African American who was part of the "Harlem Hellfighters" that served under French Command due to segregation, was not properly recognized for gallantry during his lifetime. During World War I, then-private Henry Johnson fought with the French on the Western Front because of discriminatory laws in the United States. On May 14, 1918, Johnson came under attack by a German raider party of approximately 20 men. Despite sustaining numerous gunshot wounds, Johnson fought off entire German advance, rescued his fellow soldier from certain capture, and acquired a large cache of enemy weapons. Schumer said that Johnson accomplished these actions with little training, a jammed rifle, and a bolo knife against an overwhelming German unit that was well trained during a raid that was carefully planned and meant to capture prisoners. Schumer said that, if not for Johnson's bravery, with total disregard for his own life, his fellow soldiers would have been captured, a cache of weapons and supplies would not have been acquired by the allies, and valuable intelligence would have gone to the enemy. Johnson, who was permanently disabled after the fight, was issued a communique from General Pershing commending his service, and was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Gold Palm, one of the highest military honors of France, for his bravery in battle.

Schumer has led the fight to get Sgt. Henry Johnson the recognition he deserves for his bravery and heroism during WWI. Schumer submitted a nearly-1,300 page request to the military in support of Johnson's receiving the Medal of Honor and launched an online petition to build public support. Schumer held a personal call with U.S. Army Secretary John McHugh, met with Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Jessica Wright -- who oversees decisions regarding Medals of Honor -- and wrote a letter to Secretary Hagel, all in an effort to secure the Medal of Honor for Sgt. Johnson.

In concert with Sgt. Johnson's activists, including the late John Howe, a Vietnam veteran, Schumer helped secure the second-highest American military honor for Johnson, the Distinguished Service Cross, in 2003. Schumer has consistently expressed his support for Sgt. Johnson to receive the Medal of Honor:

-In March 2011, Schumer and his staff revealed that they had uncovered game-changing evidence to support the posthumous award of the military's highest honor to Sgt. Johnson. In May 2011, Schumer submitted a nearly-1300 page request for reconsideration, which included a wealth of never-considered evidence containing the incontestable proof showing that Johnson deserves this award.

-In October 2011, Schumer launched an online petition in support of Henry Johnson's heroics during World War I, while Schumer uncovered additional evidence in support of Johnson's candidacy for the Medal.

-In October 2012 in Albany, Schumer was joined by local veterans and elected officials in his unveiling of this national online petition and in providing an official list of more additional evidence than has previously been made public, all of which has been discovered by Schumer and his office in the past two years. Despite these discoveries, however, the case remains pending. In 2012, Schumer also appeared in an episode of PBS' History Detectives that featured a painting depicting the Battle of Henry Johnson. This painting is contained in Schumer's new recommendation, and he stated that this serves as even further proof of Johnson's worthiness for the Medal of Honor.

-In March 2013, ahead of the 95th anniversary of the Battle of Henry Johnson, Schumer publicly called on Secretary McHugh to approve his request to honor Johnson with a Medal of Honor. Schumer also made multiple phone calls to McHugh on this subject over the course of 2013 and 2014.

-In May 2014, following Secretary McHugh's recommendation that Sgt. Johnson receive the Medal of Honor, Schumer wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urging him to do the same. He also met with Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Jessica Wright, who oversees decisions regarding Medals of Honor, and urged her to consider Johnson's application.

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