"Henry Lincoln Johnson"(1897-July 5,1929)

Was an American solider, and recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross,Purple Heart,and the French Croix de Guerre.Henry Johnson was born in Alexandria, Virginia moved to Albany,New York when he was in in his early teens.He worked as a redcap porter  at the Albany Union Station on Broadway.Henry enlisted in the Army June 5, 1917,joining the all-black New York National Guard unit,the 369th infantry Regiment,based  in Harlem,assigned to the French command in World War 1,Henry arrived in France  on New Year's Day,1918, private Johnson came under attack by a German raider party.Henry displayed uncommon heroism when, using his rifle and a bolo knife, he repelled the Germans,thereby rescuing a comrade from capture and saving the lives of his fellow soliders.Sgt.Henry Johnson was the first American Solider in World War 1 to received the Croix de Guerre with star and Gold Palm from the French government.Henry died in New Lenox, Illinois at the Veterans Hospital on July 5,1929,penniless,estranged from his wife and family and without official recognition from the U.S. government.He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.Interest in obtaining fitting recognition for Henry grew during the 1970s and 1980s.In november 1991 a monument was erected in Albany's Washington Park in his honor,and a section of Northern Boulevard was renamed Henry Johnson Boulevard. In June 1996,Henry was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart by President Bill Clinton.In February 2003,the Distinguished Service Cross,The Army's second hightest award,was presented to Herman A. Johnson of the Tuskegee Airmen,on behalf of his father.John Howe, a viet Nam veteran who had campaigned tirelessly for recognition for Henry and US Army Major Nathaniel James,President of the 369th Veterans Associations,were present at the ceremony in Albany.In December 2004 the postal facility at 747 Broadway was renamed the "United States Postal Service Henry Johnson Annex "Work contines to up grade his Distingished Service Cross to the Medal of Honor.On September 4,2007 the City of Albany dedicated the Henry Johnson Charter School.Johnson's granddaughter was in attendance.