President Barack Obama continued to honor soldiers who displayed bravery on the battlefield, but were ignored for decades, by presenting them with posthumous Medals of Honor. Today, the recipients are two soldiers from World War I, who were ignored due to racial discrimination.
The first medal will go to Pvt. Henry Johnson, a member of the Army’s Harlem Hellfighters. On May 15, 1918, he held off a dozen German soldiers with just a knife, saving a fellow soldier from capture. He died 10 years after the war thanks to the injuries he suffered on the battlefield.
Despite his bravery, the Army did not recommend him for a Medal of Honor while he was alive, because his regiment was being commanded by a French officer, notes The New York Times. At the time, black soldiers were also not allowed to serve with white troops.
The second recipient will be Sgt. William Shemin, also of the Army. During World War I, he continued to leave his platoon’s trench to help save wounded soldiers, despite being under heavy enemy fire. After the war, he earned a degree from Syracuse University. He died in 1973.
Shemin was Jewish, the likely reason for him being passed over for the nation’s highest military honor. According to USA Today, his daughter will accept the medal in his place.
Johnson’s medal will be accepted by New York National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Louis Wilson.
The ceremony will be held today in the East Room of the White House. These will be the 44th and 45th Medals of Honor that Obama has presented while in office.
In February 2014, Obama oversaw the largest single presentation of Medals of Honor since World War II when 24 soldiers finally received recognition. It was all part of Congress’ recent push to have Pentagon files reopened to find brave men and women who deserved recognition, but got lost in the shuffle for various reasons.
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