Brave Hero of the 369th and Recipient of the Congressional Medal Of Honor
Honored As Heroes
The Text Reads -
Honored as Heroes
Henry Johnson Needham Roberts
Cited for Bravery and Receive
Croix De Guerre
Colored Man is Eager To Show His Mettle And Do His Bit
General Pershing’s Communique
headquarters american expeditionary forces May 19 1918
Section B - Reports in hand show a notable instance of bravery and devotion shown by two soldiers of an American colored regiment operation in a French sector. Before daylight on May 15, Pte Henry Johnson and Pte. Roberts while on sentry duty at some distance from another were attacked by a German raiding party estimated at twenty men, who advance in two groups, attacking at once from flank and rear.
Both men fought bravely in hand-to-hand encounters one resorting to use of a bolo knife after his rifle jammed and further fighting with bayonet and butt became impossible. there is evidence that at lest 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 two colored sentries were first attacked and continued fighting after receiving wounds and despite the use of grenades by a superior force