He was then awarded a special citation by the French government, the Croix de Guerre. It was Frances highest award of Bravery. Meanwhile he received no such thing from the United States. It took the U.S. another 75 years to award him a purple heart, decades after he already died. During the rest of his life he was penniless and unable to work due to injuries sustained in the conflict (28 stab wounds including the crushing of his feet and legs). The military disqualified him for disability pay and gave him no recognition upon returning home. The U.S. also asked the French to not honor him so publicly as it would give other African Americans "ideas".
Let us remember Henry Johnson and the Harlem Hellfighters.