Sergeant Henry Johnson, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 2, 1879 at Milk River, Colorado during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company D, 9th U.S. Cavalry. Johnson was 29 years old.
The medal was presented on September 22, 1890, 10 years after the action.
Johnson was born on June 11, 1850 in Boydton, Mecklenburg County, Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Johnson died on January 31, 1904 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 53. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Johnson is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 112 credited to Michigan.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Voluntarily left fortified shelter and under heavy fire at close-range made the rounds of the pits to instruct the guards; fought his way to the creek and back to bring water to the wounded.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Indian Wars.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Michigan →
Timeline
- June 11, 1850Born in Boydton, Mecklenburg County, Virginia
- October 2, 1879Act of valor — Milk River, ColoradoAge 29. Company D, 9th U.S. Cavalry
- September 22, 1890Medal of Honor presented
- January 31, 1904Died in Washington, District of ColumbiaAge 53.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Henry Johnson (June 11, 1850 – January 31, 1904) was a Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration – the Medal of Honor – for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.
From the Wikipedia article “Henry Johnson (Buffalo Soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
