Henry Johnson will receive the Medal of Honor next month, almost 100 years after his wartime bravery.
The announcement recently made by the White House fulfills the wishes of Johnson’s admirers, including several in Kansas City, to see the African-American World War I veteran from upstate New York posthumously receive the nation’s highest award for valor.
“We are so glad that we are at this point,” said Tara Johnson, a Kansas City resident whose family has championed the honor for more than a decade.
Herman and Dorothy Johnson were actively involved at the University of Missouri-Kansas City for many years. The Johnson Scholarship, established in 1987, was the first scholarship created to increase college opportunities for African American UMKC students. The Herman and Dorothy Johnson Residence Hall, which opened in 2009, was named in the couple’s honor. Tara Johnson is the couple’s daughter.