FORT JOHNSON – Linda Rhodes of Pineville was overwhelmed with honor to witness the re-designation of Fort Polk to Fort Johnson in a ceremony Tuesday on the U.S. Military set up in Vernon Parish. The bottom was renamed for Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a Black World Conflict I soldier and the primary hero the Nice Conflict. He’s lastly getting a befitting recognition for service to his nation {that a} hero like him ought to have gotten in life.
To have a base the place troopers come to coach to guard the U.S. named after her grandfather is an enormous honor and greater than they’d ever imagined, Tara Johnson of Toledo, Ohio, mentioned.
“It’s progress,” she mentioned. “It’s progress inside our companies. It’s progress inside our group, as a result of now we’re specializing in folks, being much less judgmental, whatever the coloration of their pores and skin. It’s specializing in service to our nation. Nothing else.”
Taylor Gamlin of Detroit, Michigan, mentioned to have such a historic contribution famous and celebrated with the renaming of the bottom is such an honor for her aunt, Tara Johnson, and the entire household.
The U.S. Military base in Vernon Parish is house to the Joint Readiness Coaching Heart and the third Brigade Fight Group of the tenth Mountain Division. The Naming Fee, a federal fee led by retired Adm. Michelle Howard, really helpful identify modifications for 9 army bases named for Confederates. Fort Polk was named for Accomplice Gen. Leonidas Polk, the primary Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana. The re-designation of army installations, streets and ships is underway and have to be accomplished by the top of the yr.
Vietnam Conflict veteran Raymond Flowers of Bastrop heard in regards to the re-designation however didn’t attend the ceremony. He by no means thought the U.S. army would change the identify of a army base to honor a Black serviceman.
Flowers went via fundamental coaching at Fort Polk in 1962. As a result of environment on the time, he mentioned it he in all probability didn’t know that the bottom was named for a Accomplice, so it didn’t hassle him that the bottom the place he educated was named for one.
“I by no means considered the previous base identify, as a result of to me it’s not the identify of the bottom particularly,” mentioned Retired Military Col. Anthony King, who’s the chief monetary officer for the bottom. “It’s the folks that run the bottom, that function it. So right here on the Joint Readiness Coaching Heart, now Fort Johnson, it’s all in regards to the folks presently right here and the group coming as one to coach troopers.”
Barbara Dashiell-Williams of Alexandria is a Navy veteran who comes from a household with a legacy of army service. Her father, the late Charles Smith, was a World Conflict II veteran. She is one among 4 of his seven kids who served within the army.
“I am so elated right this moment,” she mentioned. “If my dad had been right here, he could be right here right this moment with an enormous smile on his face giving an enormous salute. This implies every part for the African-People concerned in World Conflict I, World Conflict II and all the opposite wars. The popularity is lastly right here.”
“Personally, I imagine this can be a important step ahead in recognition and therapeutic particularly for the African American group,” mentioned Daenel Vaughn-Tucker, Central Louisiana Technical Neighborhood Faculty Director of Library Companies on the essential campus in Alexandria, who’s an Military veteran.
Johnson’s historical past
An article about Johnson listed on the U.S. Division of Protection web site, Medal of Honor Monday: Military Sgt. Henry Johnson, states that in Could 1918, Johnson fought off German troopers attacking his place close to a bridge over the Aisne River at Bois d’Hauzy in France. He suffered 21 wounds within the assault that left one other soldier, Pvt. Needham Roberts, severely injured. Johnson threw grenades till he ran out and fired all of the ammunition he had. When he ran out of ammunition, he charged the Germans swinging his rifle like a membership. Utilizing a bolo knife, he additionally fought off two Germans who tried to hold away Roberts.
Johnson turned referred to as “Black Demise” when combating in battles. He and Roberts had been the primary American troopers to be awarded the French Croix de Guerre avec, Palme, France’s highest award for valor. He was the primary American hero of World Conflict I.
When Johnson returned to the states, he was paraded round New York Metropolis. His story motivated many Black folks to assist the warfare effort.
“However regardless of the accolades, Sgt. William Henry Johnson was by no means acknowledged as an American veteran,” mentioned Brig. Gen. David W. Gardner, commanding normal of the Joint Readiness Coaching Heart and Fort Polk. “He by no means obtained the take care of his wounds or any veterans’ advantages akin to these we take with no consideration right this moment.”
Johnson couldn’t discover work as a result of he was badly injured in the course of the warfare. He died destitute in 1929. He was buried with army honors in Arlington Nationwide Cemetery.
“Black troopers have traditionally sacrificed a lot, together with their satisfaction, dignity and honor,” mentioned Rhodes, including that regardless of segregation and discrimination, Black troops served with nice distinction.
In 1996, Johnson was posthumously awarded the Purple Coronary heart and in 2002, the Distinguished Service Cross, upgraded in 2015 to the Medal of Honor. The medal is on mortgage to Fort Johnson by the New York State Army Museum. Will probably be included in a historic exhibit about Johnson till August.
“Sgt. William Henry Johnson embodied the warrior spirit, and we’re deeply honored to bear his identify on the Dwelling of Heroes,” Gardner mentioned.
“Sgt. Johnson’s story is one which must be shared, as it’s a common story of energy, braveness, and resilience. And this can be a legacy that each one who practice at Fort Johnson will carry with them,” mentioned Vaughn-Tucker.
Jimmy Sawtelle, Chancellor of Central Louisiana Technical Neighborhood Faculty, attended the ceremony with Vaughn-Tucker.
“The story of Sgt. Henry Johnson’s heroic bravery in World Conflict I is past inspirational,” Sawtelle mentioned. “CLTCC is honored to associate with Fort Johnson, having educated a whole bunch of transitioning troopers in partnership with their Soldier for Life program and partnering with corporations akin to Linde and our sister school SOWELA Technical Neighborhood Faculty.”
Rhodes mentioned President Abraham Lincoln believed in what Black troopers may obtain regardless of standard opinion on the contrary in the course of the Civil Conflict.
“What makes me so unhappy is that after the warfare, they did not obtain what was promised to them,” she mentioned. “Their freedom. Army advantages. Medals of honor for his or her bravery.”
Why bases had been named for Confederates
In an effort to get assist for World Conflict I within the South, some U.S. Military base had been named after Accomplice officers as an indication of reconciliation between the North and the South, in response to a Division of Protection article DOD Begins Implementing Naming Fee Suggestions.
“It was additionally the peak of the Jim Crow Legal guidelines within the South, so there was no consideration for the sentiments of African People who needed to serve at bases named after males who fought to defend slavery,” the article goes on to state.
Camp Beauregard re-designation
Camp Beauregard in Pineville can be re-designated because the Louisiana Nationwide Guard Coaching Heart Pineville later this yr, in response to a press launch issued by the Louisiana Nationwide Guard.
Six names had been offered to the adjutant normal, Maj. Gen. Keith Waddell, for consideration after the Camp Beauregard re-designation committee accomplished their alternatives.
Waddell chosen the identify with the highest variety of votes from the committee. He said that Louisiana Nationwide Guard Coaching Heart Pineville mirrored the values of the LANG, the state of Louisiana and the US of America.
A re-designation ceremony can be decided on this fall.
