"Our Colored Heroes"

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Description

On the night of May 15, 1918, then-Private Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts of the 369th Infantry Regiment were at a listening outpost in No Man's Land to detect enemy movements. They were attacked by a German raiding party - estimated at between 20 and 30 soldiers. Roberts was quickly incapacitated, but he continued to hand grenades to a wounded Johnson. The Germans attempted to drag Roberts back to their trenches, but Johnson pursued them. Firing his rifle until it jammed and then using it as a club until it broke, Johnson drew a bolo knife and continued to fight. After reinforcements arrived, Johnson collapsed from 21 wounds.

Type

Image

Region

New York State, United States, Global

Era

Turn of the Century and WWI

Topic

African Americans, World War I

Repository

New York State Museum

Identifier

H-1976.31.10

Source

New York State Museum

Rights

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