President To Award Two More Metals Of Honor

President to award two Medals of Honor on June 2, 2015
Jonn Lilyea | May 14, 2015

The White House announces today that two more Medals of Honor will be awarded to two heroes of the Great War; Sergeant William Shemin of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, and then-Private (now Sergeant) Henry Lincoln “Black Death” Johnson of Company C, 369th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division will receive the awards posthumously.

Both men were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their actions, but it has been upgraded to the Medal of Honor. The DSC citation for Sergeant William Shemin reads;
[O]n the Vesle River, near Bazoches, France, 7, 8, and 9 August 1918[,] Sergeant Shemin upon three different occasions left cover and crossed an open space 150 yards, exposed to heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, to rescue wounded. After officers and senior noncommissioned officers had become casualties, Sergeant Shemin took command of the platoon and displayed great initiative under fire until wounded on 9 August.

Private Henry Johnson’s citation reads;
While on a double sentry night duty, Private Johnson and a fellow soldier were attacked by a raiding party of Germans numbering almost twenty, wounding both. When the Germans were within fighting distance, he opened fire, shooting one of them and seriously wounding two more. The Germans continued to advance, and as they were about to be captured Private Johnson drew his bolo knife from his belt and attacked the Germans in a hand-to-hand encounter. Even though having sustained three grenade and shotgun wounds from the star, Private Johnson went to the rescue of his fellow soldier who was being taken prisoner by the enemy. He kept on fighting until the Germans were chased away. Private Johnson’s personal courage and total disregard for his own life reflect great credit upon himself, the 369th United States Infantry Regiment, the United States Army, and the United States of America.

Johnson was the first US soldier to be awarded the Croix de Guerre with star and Gold Palm from the French government in the war and his actions that night earned him the nickname “Black Death” out of respect for his bravery.

Sergeant Shemin’s daughter, Ms. Elsie Shemin-Roth will accept the award in his stead, while Command Sergeant Major Louis Wilson, New York National Guard will stand in for Sergeant Johnson.

Category: Real Soldiers