Keith Henley portrays Sgt. Henry Johnson, WWI hero, Nov. 14 at RFL

Riverton Free Library and the Historical Society of Riverton present actor and historian Keith Henley who portrays World War I hero Sgt. Henry “Black Death” Johnson who served in the 369th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Harlem Hellfighters.

During a battle in the Argonne Forest with German soldiers, Feb. 12, 1919, he fought off the raiding party in hand-to-hand combat, killing multiple German soldiers and rescuing a fellow soldier while suffering 21 combat wounds. For this, France awarded him its highest award for valor, the French Croix de Guerre avec Palme.

Back home, he was denied a Purple Heart and a disability allowance. He died, destitute, in 1929 at age 32. Decades later he posthumously received the Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Cross, and the Congressional Medal of Honor.

WHEN: Nov. 14, 2018 at 7pm
WHERE: Riverton Free Library

Free admission – Seating is limited – Light refreshments served

See more info about Sgt. Johnson and the Harlem Hellfighters here. The video trailer below is for a 2017 PBS documentary