thisdayinwwi:

thisdayinwwi:

The Sun., May 21 1918

Pershing praises brave negroes

General Pershing praises bravery of 2 African-American privates, Henry Johnson and

Needham

Roberts, who fought brutal hand-to-hand combat with up to 20 German raiders.

Pershing Praises Brave Negroes

Washington, May 20. Gen. Pershing in his communique to the War Department to-day says:

Section A-Aside from the activity of the air forces on both sides the day was quiet at all points occupied by our troops. Our aviators brought down two hostile machines.
Section B-Reports in hand show a notable instance of bravery and devotion shown by two soldiers of an American colored regiment operating in a French sector. Before daylight on May 15 Private Henry Johnson and Private Roberts while on sentry duty at some distance from one another were attacked by a German raiding party estimated at twenty men, who, advanced In two groups, attacking at once from flank and rear.
Both men fought bravely In hand to hand encounters, one resorting to the use of a bolo knife after his rifle jammed and further fighting with bayonet and butt became impossible.
There is evidence that at least one and probably a second German was severely cut. A third is known to have been shot.
Attention is drawn to the fact that the colored sentries were first attacked and continued fighting after receiving wounds and despite the use of grenades by a superior force. They should be given credit for preventing by their bravery the capture of any of our men. Three of our men were wounded, two by grenades. All are recovering, and the wounds in two cases are slight.

Remembering Henry Johnson, the Soldier Called “Black Death”

Needham Roberts