I
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3890
To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor posthumously
to Henry Johnson, of Albany, New York, for acts of valor during World
War I and to direct the Secretary of the Army to conduct a review
of military service records to determine whether certain other African
American World War I veterans should be awarded the Medal of Honor
for actions during that war.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 7, 2002
Mr. GILMAN (for himself and Mr. MCNULTY) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor
posthumously to Henry Johnson, of Albany, New York,
for acts of valor during World War I and to direct
the Secretary of the Army to conduct a review of military
service records to determine whether certain other Afri-
can American World War I veterans should be awarded
the Medal of Honor for actions during that war.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘World War I Veterans
Medal of Honor Justice Act’’.
SEC. 2. AUTHORITY FOR AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO
HENRY JOHNSON.
(a) INAPPLICABILITY OF TIME LIMITATIONS.—Not-
withstanding the time limitations in section 3744(b) of
title 10, United States Code, or any other time limitation,
the President may award the Medal of Honor under sec-
tion 3741 of such title posthumously to Henry Johnson
(service number 10–33–48), of Albany, New York, for the
actions referred to in subsection (b), the Secretary of the
Army having determined that by those actions Henry
Johnson distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry
and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond
the call of duty.
(b) ACTIONS.—The actions referred to in subsection
(a) are the actions of Henry Johnson during World War
I in repulsing an attack by a superior enemy force and
rescuing a badly wounded comrade, notwithstanding his
own serious wounds, on the night of May 14–15, 1918,
while serving as a private in the 369th Infantry Regiment
of the United States Army.
SEC. 3. REVIEW REGARDING AWARD OF CONGRESSIONAL
MEDAL OF HONOR TO CERTAIN ADDITIONAL
AFRICAN AMERICAN WORLD WAR I VET-
ERANS.
(a) REVIEW REQUIRED.—The Secretary of the Army
shall review the service records of each African American
World War I Army veteran described in subsection (b) to
determine whether that veteran should be awarded the
Medal of Honor.
(b) COVERED AFRICAN AMERICAN VETERANS.—The
African American World War I Army veterans whose serv-
ice records are to be reviewed under subsection (a) are
the following:
(1) Any African American World War I veteran
who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
(2) Any African American World War I Army
veteran who was awarded the French Legion of
Merit or the Croix de Guerre by the government of
France.
(c) CONSULTATIONS.—In carrying out the review
under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Army shall con-
sult with the 369th Veterans’ Association and with such
other veterans service organizations as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate.
(d) RECOMMENDATION BASED ON REVIEW.—If the
Secretary determines, based upon the review under sub-
section (a) of the service records of any African American
World War I Army veteran, that the award of the Medal
of Honor to that veteran is warranted, the Secretary shall
submit to the President a recommendation that the Presi-
dent award the Medal of Honor to that veteran.
(e) AUTHORITY TO AWARD MEDAL OF HONOR.—A
Medal of Honor may be awarded to an African American
World War I veteran in accordance with a recommenda-
tion of the Secretary concerned under subsection (a).
(f) WAIVER OF TIME LIMITATIONS.—An award of
the Medal of Honor may be made under subsection (e)—
(1) without regard to section 3744 of title 10,
United States Code; and
(2) without regard to any regulation or other
administrative restriction on—
(A) the time for awarding the Medal of
Honor; or
(B) the awarding of the Medal of Honor
for service for which a Distinguished Service
Cross has been awarded.
Æ