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For Immediate Release
For More Information Contact John Howe (518) 482-1496 Henry Johnson
and the case for a Medal of Honor will be judged in the eye of the American
People. The 369th will not abandon Henry Johnson’s cause! Albany New York March 20, 2002-The Albany District of the 369th
Veterans’ Association, Inc. is thankful that the Department of the Army has
made a decision in the case of the award of a high decoration to Sergeant
Henry Johnson late of Albany New York. Dr. Maurice Thornton,
National Vice President for the association said, “We most gratefully
acknowledge the award of the Distinguished Service Cross, but it is not the
full measure of what Johnson deserves. We will graciously accept this medal on
behalf of the family as we accepted the Purple Heart Medal previously. ” John Howe, the organization
historian and legislative director said, “Napoleon once said, history is the
fable that is agreed upon. This fable is not finished in the eye of the
people.” The DSC as it is known is in
itself the second highest decoration in the hierarchy of American awards and
decorations and is commonly accepted to be just a hairs breadth away from the
Medal of Honor. The DSC and the Medal of Honor are the only medals in the US
inventory that carry a monetary award for the recipient. In the case of a
posthumous award there is no money to the surviving family. Johnson’s legacy until
today has been more of a legendary remembrance, than that of a real life
American hero. His bravery has now been acknowledged officially and he will
now be remembered in a way that befits that of one of Americas greatest
heroes. All of this withstanding we
are not satisfied with the decision of the army in this matter. The award of a
DSC after the initial recommendation was approved by the Secretary of the Army
and its subsequent non-concurring recommendation by the Chair of the Joint
Chiefs is in the opinion of this organization a point of contention. To
invalidate the recommendation of the then Secretary Caldera and to start the
process all over again is unfair to Henry Johnson’s family and is not in
keeping faith with the traditions of the military. On February 14th,
2002 this organization in conjunction with the New York State Vietnam Memorial
and Fine Arts Gallery held a symposium entitled “A Conversation Surrounding
the Award of High Decorations to Soldiers , Sailors and Airmen of Color.”
This was well attended by participants from coast to coast. During the course
of the symposium the Medal of Honor scholars representing the Civil War, the
Indian Wars, World War I & II all were in agreement that to this day there
are vestiges of institutional racism in place when it comes to awarding the
aforementioned individuals the Navy Cross, DSC or Medal of Honor. In particular the panel felt
that the burden of past racism in the way soldiers and sailors of the bygone
era were judged or not judged with a fair and equitable manner was the focal
point. The foundation for the award of these medals from earlier periods of
American history fails to take into account the blatant discriminating manner
in which the African American fighting man was treated. This treatment was in
all areas to include record keeping, medical care, assignments, etc. We will not cease in our
effort to see that the Henry Johnson is awarded the Medal of Honor and that we
will continue to examine the cases of other African American servicemen and
women heroes who have been either lost stolen or strayed. The matter of Henry Johnson
has been public in Washington DC since the efforts by former Congressman Joe
DioGuardio and the late Mickey Leland, then chair of the Congressional Black
Caucus introduced legislation mandating the Army to investigate Henry
Johnson’s heroism in WWI. The effort was continued by Brooklyn Congressman
Edolphus “Ed” Towns when he became chair of the Congressional Black
Caucus. In the eye of the American
people, Sergeant Henry Johnson will be an American hero who until our efforts
and the efforts of State of New York and others who picked up the gauntlet in
this cause, was mostly forgotten. In an related historical
matter, in 1992 Shaw University was
commissioned by the Secretary of the Army to examine the facts surrounding the
absence of Medals of Honor awarded to WWII black soldiers. As a result of that
study six member who had received the DSC and one who was awarded the Silver
Star were subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor. The findings of this closely
held study indicated that the “Climate of the times, and the common
practices within the Army, guaranteed that no black could receive the
military’s highest award.” If this was true in WWII, the
soldiers of WWI had an even lesser opportunity to be recognized for their war
efforts. We will never forget that
there have been men and women who are heroes of all magnitude that have served
our country and have been forgotten by our government. We are urging that the New
York Congressional delegation take all necessary steps to ensure that Sergeant
Johnson receive the DSC. We further wish to make it clear that this will not
assuage us from continuing our organization or the Johnson family in our
moving forward in the effort to secure the Medal of Honor for Sergeant Johnson |