Sergeant William Henry Johnson

A soldier from the U.S. Army, Sergeant William Johnson is still remembered for his heroic actions in the first world war. He was involved in hand-to-hand combat with the German Army. He not only killed numerous German soldiers, he even rescued a fellow soldier from their clutches, despite experiencing 21 wounds.

His heroism received nationwide coverage thanks to the New York World as well as The Saturday Evening Post. Born in 1892, Johnson was just 38 years old when he breathed his last. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre, a military decoration from the French government in 1918.

That made him the first American soldier in the first world war to secure that honor. Barack Obama, the former president of the United States, awarded him the Medal of Honor at a ceremony in the White House. Johnson is still remembered fondly.