Washington Park in Albany in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Battle of Henry Johnson
[Top Panel]
First American Awarded
Croix De Guerre
with
Gold Palm
For
Valor
[Center Panel]
In Memory of Sergeant Henry Lincoln Johnson Albany, New York for uncommon valor in combat against an armed enemy May 14th, 1918 while serving with Company C 369th Infantry Regiment part of U. S. Expeditionary Forces during World War I Assigned to the Fourth French Army Awarded the Croix De Guerre by France Dedicated this 11th day of November 1991 at Albany, New York
[Bottom Panel]
President William Clinton directed the award of the Purple Heart to Henry Johnson on 25 June 1996 seventy-eight years following the action
[Horizontal Panel]
The United States of America to all who shall see these presents greeting this to certify that the President of the United States of America has awarded the Purple Heart established by General George Washington at Newburgh New York August 7 1782 to Henry Johnson Then Sergeant United States Army for wounds received in action in World War 1 on 14 May 1918 given under my hand in the city of Washington this 25th day of June 1996 (Signed) Togo D. West, Jr. Secretary of the Army
[Left Panel]
369th US Infantry formerly 15th Infantry New York Guard known by the enemy as "The Hellfighters"
Regiment awarded the following battle streamers
Champagne
Champagne - Marne
Meuse - Argonne
Alsace
________________
Croixe De Guerre with Silver Star
25 July 1917 28 February 1919
[Right Panel]
First Allied regiment to reach the Rhine
Never lost a man captured, a trench or a foot of ground
191 Days in Combat Longest of any American unit
367 Men Killed in Action
1097 Men Wounded in Action
[Reverse Side]
[Left Panel]
Bust Dedicated May 27, 1996
Gerald D. Jennings Mayor
E. Alvin Mitchell National President
Leroy Ramsey Military Historian
Rev. Arthur T. Moore Chaplain
Monument completed 11 November 1996
[Center Panel]
A joint project by the City of Albany Thomas M. Whalen III, Mayor and Albany District 369th Veterans Association, Inc. Co-Chairman Thomas M. Whalen, III Cliford M. Johnson
James A. Dandles President, Albany District 369 Veterans' Association, Inc.
Samuel w. Phillips (BG Ret) past National President
Vincent J. Forte Sr, Sculptor
[Right Panel]
Committee
Francis J. Alphonso
Richard Barrett
Issac Brown
Lawrence C. Burwell
Peter M. Conway
Conrad Duncan
Clarkie Everet
John L. Howe
Douglass W. Johnson
William Miles
Clarence Parker
Samuel Praylor
Henry F. Shadrick
Maurice Thornton
Gordon Van Ness
Erected 1996 by City of Albany & Albany District 369th Veterans Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is May 14, 1918.
Location. 42° 39.229′ N, 73° 46.139′ W. Marker is in Albany, New York, in Albany County. It is in Washington Park. Marker is on Washington Park Road a.k.a. Henry Johnson Blvd., on the right when traveling west. The Marker is in the southeast corner of Washington Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Albany NY 12210, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Origins of the Albany Tulip Festival (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Washington Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Parading and Promenading (approx. 0.2 miles away); Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Boats and Music (approx. ¼ mile away); Townsend Park (approx. 0.3 miles away); 10th Ward War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Spanish-American War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.
Regarding The Battle of Henry Johnson. Henry Johnson was born in 1897 in Alexandria, Virginia moved to Albany, New York when he was in his early teens. He worked as a redcap porter at the Albany Union Station on Broadway. Johnson enlisted in the Army June 5, 1917, joining the all-black New York National Guard unit,the 15th New York Infantry, which, when mustered into federal service was renamed the 369th Infantry Regiment, based in Harlem.
After World War I, Henry Johnson was hailed as a hero, and a ticker-tape parade was held in his honor in New York City.
Johnson died at age 32 in New Lenox, Illinois at the Veterans Hospital, on July 5, 1929, penniless, estranged from his wife and three children and without official recognition from the U.S. government. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Also see . . .
1. Henry Johnson Find A Grave Memorial. (Submitted on May 20, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)
2. Medal of Honor: Sergeant Henry Johnson. (Submitted on June 2, 2015, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)
3. Congressional Medal of Honor Society. (Submitted on June 13, 2022, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)
Additional commentary.
1. Bronzes of Henry Johnson
I was glad to see my dad's bronze of Henry Johnson noted here. You may not be aware that there is a second (different) bronze of Henry Johnson also sculpted by my dad at the other end of Henry Johnson Blvd in a pocket park created by the city of Albany. Thus as far as I know this is the only time a man has been honored with a street named after him and a bronze of him at each end of the street with the bronzes completed by the same sculptor. On the second bronze you will see an unusual point on the chest. This is where a bronze of the last remaining medal due to him will be placed when it is approved. It is a blemish not on the bronze but on the country that it is still missing approval and thus missing from the bronze.
Vince Forte, Jr.
— Submitted September 3, 2011, by Vince Forte, Jr. of Albany, New York.
Additional keywords. Medal of Honor Sgt Henry Johnson Medal of Honor sergeant henry johnson medal of honor Our Colored Heroes
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 4,330 times since then and 188 times this year. Last updated on May 24, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on May 19, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 9. submitted on May 20, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on May 19, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 14, 15, 16. submitted on May 20, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 17, 18. submitted on November 11, 2015, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 19. submitted on June 9, 2017, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 20. submitted on January 5, 2020, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.