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Fort Polk renamed in honor of Black WWI hero Sgt. William Henry Johnson

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Source: NPR
Fort Polk renamed in honor of Black WWI hero Sgt. William Henry Johnson
Photo: NPR
TL;DR

Louisiana's Fort Polk has been renamed Fort Johnson in honor of Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a Black World War I hero. Johnson's actions on the front lines in France earned him the nickname Black Death during his lifetime and a posthumous Medal of Honor nearly a century later. Johnson and his comrade Pvt. Needham Roberts became the first U.S. soldiers to receive the Croix du Guerre — France's highest military honor — as a result of their actions, and later returned home as national heroes.

Topics:nationmilitary#fort-johnson#medal-of-honor#military#us-army#william-henry-johnson#world-war-i
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  1. The U.S. Army renames a base in honor of Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a Black WWI hero  NPR
  2. Army renames Louisiana base for Black World War I hero  POLITICO
  3. Louisiana's Fort Polk renamed after African American WWI soldier  ABC News
  4. Army renames Louisiana base after Black WWI hero  PennLive
  5. Fort Polk renamed Fort Johnson; honors sacrifice of Black World War I hero  USA TODAY

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