[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 19 (Thursday, February 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E274-E275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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                        HON. MICHAEL R. McNULTY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 13, 1997

  Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, because I was unable to participate in 
Tuesday's Special Order commemorating Black History Month, I

[[Page E275]]

respectfully submit this extension of remarks on behalf of Sgt. Henry 
Johnson's candidacy for the Congressional Medal of Honor.
  Sgt. Henry Johnson, an African-American soldier from Albany, NY, 
performed extraordinary acts of bravery during World War I. However, he 
has yet to receive the honor and recognition he deserves from the 
Nation he so heroically served.
  According to the Department of the Army, on the night of May 15, 
1918, near Verdun, France, then Private Johnson, a member of the all-
Black 369th Infantry Regiment, gallantly fought off an attack from an 
enemy patrol of at least 12 German soldiers. On that night, Johnson 
killed four German soldiers, wounded numerous others, rescued a wounded 
comrade, and captured a stockpile of weapons. He accomplished this feat 
by using grenades, rifle fire, and engaging in hand-to-hand combat with 
both the butt of his rifle and his French bolo knife. In the midst of 
the fighting, Johnson was severely wounded.
  To acknowledge and reward this act of valor, the French Government 
honored Johnson on May 24, 1918--just 9 days after the engagement. 
Citing ``his magnificent example of courage and energy,'' it awarded 
Johnson with the Croix de Guerre, for all intents and purposes the 
highest strictly military honor a foreign soldier can receive. Last 
year, 78 years after the fact, the Department of Defense finally 
awarded Henry Johnson the Purple Heart. Mr. Speaker, he deserves the 
Congressional Medal of Honor.
  During this celebration of African-American History, I need not 
remind you of the great injustices that took place in our Nation during 
the years of legalized racial segregation. No one disputes that the 
values for which American stands were undermined during that period. I 
simply urge that those who bravely fought for those values, in spite of 
the then-existing practices of American society, receive their just 
reward.
  The fact is that Sergeant Johnson and many other African-American 
soldiers performed heroic service during World War I. To date, only one 
of these men has received the Medal of Honor--and that was awarded 73 
years after his death on the battlefield. This is wrong. We must 
correct this blemish on our history.
  If we as a Nation are going to realize, as President Clinton noted in 
his State of the Union, that our ``diversity is our greatest 
strength,'' we must settle the errors of our past. If we are going to 
``give all of our citizens, whatever their background, an opportunity 
to achieve their greatness,'' we must honor those who have already 
earned great distinction.
  To be sure, as our colleague, the gentleman from Oklahoma, reminded 
us just a week ago, ``Government can't ease all the pain'' of racial 
division. But when Government can effectively act, it should; when 
Government has been part of the problem, it must be part of the 
solution. I therefore urge all the Members of this House to do justice 
to the memory of St. Henry Johnson and support the effort to award him 
the Congressional Medal of Honor.

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