WASHINGTON (Army News Service, June 3, 2015) -- A pair of World War I Soldiers were inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon, June 3, one day after the upgrade of their Distinguished Service Crosses to Medals of Honor, posthumously, by President Barack Obama.
"This ceremony is a reminder that we redress the prejudices of the past and appropriately honor our nation's heroes," said Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work as he discussed the valor of Pvt. Henry Johnson, an African-American, and Sgt. William Shemin, who was Jewish.
"It is a feature of our republic and the American people themselves that we have the ability to correct our course, and that the nation's long arc of history does not bend toward injustice… it bends toward justice," Work said. "In the case of Pvt. Johnson, it was racism… in the case of Sgt. Shemin, it was anti-semitism … it is important that we acknowledge the injustices and mistakes of the past and rightfully honor those, who have given so much on behalf of their country.
"And, particularly as a military institution that represents literally every single member of this nation, every citizen, regardless of race, regardless of belief, regardless of preference, it is imperative that we do all we can to fix the wrongs from the past."
PRIVATE JOHNSON
Nearly a century ago, Johnson enlisted with the 15th New York (Colored) Infantry Regiment, an all-black National Guard unit, which later became the 369th Infantry Regiment, of the 93rd Infantry Division, known as the "Harlem Hellfighters." His unit was sent to the Western Front in 1918 and attached to a French command.
Johnson, with another Soldier, came under attack while standing sentry duty. Surrounded by about 12 German soldiers, he and his comrade fended off the enemy with grenades and rifle fire until their ammunition was spent.
Seeing the other sentry being dragged off into captivity, and disregarding a slew of wounds, the 5'4" Johnson used his rifle as a club before it finally splintered, then he pulled a bolo knife, stabbing and hacking the enemy until American and French troops arrived on the scene to aid in repelling the German forces. He was awarded France's highest medal, the Croix de Guerre with the Gold Palm for exceptional valor.
He stayed with his regiment until it returned home at war's end. Suffering from 21 combat wounds, Johnson was unable to work as a train porter, which he had done before the war. His wife and children abandoned him and he died destitute in 1929 at age 32. Johnson had suffered 21 combat wounds, yet he never received disability pay upon his discharge.
It was not until 1996 that he received a Purple Heart. In 2002, after further reviews of documented first-hand accounts of what Johnson had done in battle, the Army awarded him the Distinguished Service Cross.
SERGEANT SHEMIN
Army Under Secretary Brad Carson told the story of Shemin, who distinguished himself by his fearlessness and extraordinary heroism while serving as a rifleman with the 47th Infantry Regiment, of the 4th Division, near Bazoches, France.
"From his trench, it was recounted that he could see Americans injured, dying and littering the battlefield," Carson said. "What happened next is best recounted by his superior officer that day… he wrote that with utter disregard to his own safety, Shemin sprang from his platoon trench, dashed out across the open into full sight of the Germans, who maintained a furious burst of machine-gun and rifle fire."
On three occasions between Aug. 7-9, 1918, Shemin left cover and crossed an open space of 150 yards to rescue the wounded. After officers and senior noncommissioned officers had become casualties, Shemin took command of the platoon until he himself took a round through his helmet which hospitalized him for three months.
"Let us call it duty, honor, patriotism, love - whatever we call it, let us be grateful that our country seems to be so blessed with an abundance of this scarce breed of person - Sgt. Shemin and Pvt. Johnson being two of which we honor today," Carson said.
"The fates of Pvt. Johnson and Sgt. Shemin, after the war, would not be the same," he continued. "Sgt. Shemin would go off to Syracuse; he would play football, study forestry and live a long life until the 1970s anchored by eternal varieties of faith and family - a family of more than 60, who join us today."
Before presenting Medal of Honor flags to Command Sgt. Maj. Louis Wilson, of the New York National Guard, on behalf of Johnson and to Elsie Shemin-Roth, daughter of Shemin, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Daniel B. Allyn delivered remarks.
"Today, we honor the legacy of these great Soldiers by dedicating ourselves to building Soldiers in their likeness, as professionals and leaders of character, protecting our great nation and all that it stands for… the land of the free and the home of the brave," Allyn said.
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Army Medal of Honor Johnson microsite
Army Medal of Honor Shemin microsite
STAND-TO!: Medal of Honor for Sgt. Henry Johnson and Sgt. William Shemin
White House: Remarks of President Obama at Medal of Honor ceremony
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