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June 2, 2015State Museum Honors World War I Medal of Honor Recipients Henry Johnson & William Shemin with Special Exhibition
Exhibit open June 2 through June 8
The New York State Museum will open a special exhibition honoring two World War I Army Sergeants from New York State who will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor on June 2, 2015. Sergeant Henry Johnson and Sergeant William Shemin will receive the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor, in a White House ceremony led by President Barack Obama.
On display in the Main Lobby through June 8, 2015, The Battle for Henry Johnson and A Wrong Made Right explores Johnson and Shemin’s heroic actions as World War I soldiers as well as the public efforts to officially recognize their bravery decades after their deaths. The exhibition also features photographs of Johnson and Shemin as well as World War I era artifacts.
“The State Museum is proud to commemorate Sergeant Henry Johnson and Sergeant William Shemin’s award of the Medal of Honor as New York State and the nation celebrate two great American soldiers,” said New York State Museum Director Mark Schaming. “The Medal of Honor formally recognizes Johnson and Shemin’s great courage and is an important moment in American and New York State history.”
Sergeant Henry Johnson
On the night of May 14, 1918, Henry Johnson and fellow soldier Needham Roberts were at a listening outpost in No Man’s Land to detect enemy movements when they were attacked by a German raiding party. Roberts was quickly incapacitated, but he continued to hand grenades to a wounded Johnson. The Germans attempted to drag Roberts back to their trenches, but Johnson pursued them. Firing his rifle until it jammed and then using it as a club until it broke, Johnson drew a bolo knife and continued to fight. After reinforcements arrived, Johnson collapsed from twenty-one wounds.
Although Johnson’s heroism was well-publicized immediately after his homecoming, the fanfare surrounding him quickly disappeared. He was unable to collect any benefits due to him as a wounded veteran despite ample evidence of those wounds. He died on July 10, 1929 at the age of 32 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
The racial climate in the nation at the time also meant that official recognition of Johnson’s bravery would not be forthcoming. In 1996 Johnson was awarded the Purple Heart – an award presented to every American service man or woman wounded in combat. In 2002, Johnson was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second highest award for valor. President Barack Obama will present the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Henry Johnson in a White House ceremony on June 2, 2015.
Sergeant William Shemin
In the summer of 1918, American and other Allied forces launched attacks on German fortifications in the Aisne-Marne region of France. Among the Americans involved in the fighting was Sergeant William Shemin. During combat operations near the Vesle River from August 7-9, 1918, Sergeant Shemin and the 4th Division encountered stiff German resistance as they attempted to secure Allied gains from the Aisne-Marne Offensive.
During the fighting, William Shemin left the cover of his platoon’s trench and crossed open space, repeatedly exposing himself to heavy machine gun and rifle fire to rescue three wounded soldiers. After officers and senior noncommissioned officers of the unit were killed or wounded, Sergeant Shemin took command of the platoon and displayed great initiative under fire until he was wounded August 9.
For his actions, Sergeant William Shemin received the Purple Heart and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, this nation’s second-highest award for valor, in 1919. The heroism that Shemin displayed was considered by many, including Jim Pritchard, one of the three soldiers rescued by William Shemin, to be worthy of the Medal of Honor. Pritchard confided to Shemin’s daughter that he believed the reason her father had not received the honor he had earned was due to his Jewish heritage. President Barack Obama will present the Medal of Honor to Sergeant William Shemin in a White House ceremony on June 2, 2015.
The New York State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website at www.nysm.nysed.gov.
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