Army Pvt. Henry Johnson and Army Sgt. William Shemin may be gone, but their service to this country is not forgotten.
On June 2, President Obama awarded the two men the Medal of Honor posthumously for their heroic actions during World War I.
According to the LA Times, Johnson served in the 369th Infantry Regiment, an all-black unit, where he was lauded for his bravery when he prevented German soldiers from capturing himself and an injured companion during a nighttime attack. This included engaging in hand-to-hand combat after his gun jammed. He was honored by the French government, but was not recognized at home.
Shemin was a rifleman in Company G, 47th Infantry Regiment, who exposed himself to heavy enemy fire in France to rescue wounded soldiers, and then took command of his platoon when the commanding officers were killed, the White House reported. The award was accepted by his daughter, Elsie Shemin-Roth.
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"It has taken a long time for Henry Johnson and William Shemin to receive the recognition they deserve, and there are surely others whose heroism is still unacknowledged and uncelebrated," Obama said at the ceremony. "So we have work to do, as a nation, to make sure all our heroes' stories are told."
The Medal of Honor is awarded to military members who go above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action, displaying conduct that involves great self-sacrifice or personal bravery while risking their life. The White House reported that there must be incontestable proof to these merit-worthy actions.
While the White House did not give a reason for the delay in awarding the Medals of Honor, Newsweek reported that many believe it to be the result of racism, as Johnson was black and Shemin was Jewish.
In his speech, President Obama stated that awarding these men righted a great wrong.