WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives has passed Congressman Antonio Delgado’s (D, NY-19) legislation to make Korean War hero Charles Johnson eligible for the Medal of Honor, posthumously.
Johnson, a native of Dutchess County, was overlooked for this decoration when he gave his life in service of his country almost 70 years later.
In November, Delgado secured a commitment from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to recommend to President Joe Biden that Johnson receive the Medal of Honor. However, Congress must first waive a statutory requirement that the medal be awarded within five years of the act of valor it recognizes. Delgado’s legislation making Johnson eligible to receive the medal beyond the five-year time limit passed the House as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, which now heads to the Senate.
Johnson was killed in action on June 12, 1953, while defending Outpost Harry — a small but strategically important hill in the Choran Valley, about 60 miles north of Seoul, South Korea. During the battle, which saw thousands of enemy troops attempt to seize the outpost, Johnson and many other soldiers in his unit were wounded.
Ignoring his own injuries, Johnson treated wounded soldiers, dragged others to safety, and held off the enemy practically single-handedly as his comrades were evacuated. He died doing so. Others in his unit credit him with saving the lives of at least eight men.
He is buried in Millbrook.
Despite his bravery, Johnson received no decorations for valor at the time of his death. It was not until 2011 that he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
According to the testimony of his fellow soldiers, Johnson had been overlooked for this decoration—or any decoration—when he died because he was black.
A Pentagon review of PFC Johnson’s case was initiated by former Representative Chris Gibson, and the work continued by Delgado.
