Privates Henry Johnson left and Needham Roberts right single handedly defeated German troops on the night of May 15
CHAPIES BATTLING BLACK DEATH It was midnight and Private Henry Johnson sat in the dark listening for the enemy It was a moonlit night easier for spotting the enemy but also easier for getting spotted Every sound seemed magnified in the darkness Private Johnson along with fellow to 4 00 a m patrol of Outpost 29 an isolated listening post that soldier Private Needham Roberts thad volunteered for the midnight was part of the French defenses against enemy German forces Although Johnson and Roberts weren't French their unit the 369th US Infantry was among the first of US troops sent to help fight in the Great War in Europe the war that became known as World War I 1914 1918 On the night of May 15 1918 Johnson and Roberts had one mission listen for any signs of the enemy and report the news so the front line could prepare for
The listening post wasn't much protection just in the ground with a hole some planks for a floor surrounded by tall grass and barbed wire Roughly 50 yards 46 m behind Outpost 29 was Post 28 and the rest of Johnson's patrol Fifty yards 46 m behind that was the main trench where the rest of the troops were restlessly sleeping Johnson tensed in the darkness alert TRENCH WARFARE Trench warfare is combat during which troops fight from trenches or deep ditches Thousands of miles of trenches were dug during World War I The trench system consisted of three rows of parallel ditches The first row was the front line for fighting The second row which was approximately 3 5 to 5 miles 5 6 to 8 km behind the front line was another trench for reserve troops The third row approximately 5 to 7 5 miles 8 to 12 km behind the support line was a service line wide enough to fit supply trucks and ambulances Communication trenches ran perpendicularly between the three main trenches to connect them To reduce damage from attack trenches were not built in straight lines Instead they zigzagged to any possible enemy movement A approximately 1 00 am a sniper fired at Johnson Soon came more enemy fire Figuring he d better get ready for an attack Johnson laid out a row of roughly 30 hand grenades He didn't have long to wait Approximately an hour later Johnson heard the snip of wire cutters The Germans were clipping through the barbed wire defenses Johnson called to Roberts and told him to leave and go warn the lieutenant The snipping sound came again this time closer Johnson threw a hand
The enemy opened fire and charged Germans were everywhere at least 28 of them Roberts raced back toward the outpost to help Johnson but was hit by a grenade Unable to walk or use his arm Roberts lay on the floor and handed Johnson grenades Johnson felt shots clip him but he kept fighting He lobbed grenade after grenade and then opened fire with his rifle One of his three shots killed an enemy soldier but then Johnson's French rifle jammed after he accidentally THE MAJOR POWERS OF WORLD WAR I reloaded it with American ammunition World War I began in Europe and gradually His gun now useless Johnson turned countries joined together into two main groups it into a club and started swinging As the the Central powers and the Entente powers also called the Allies The main countries of the Germans tried dragging Roberts away as a Central powers were Germany Austria Hungary prisoner Johnson smashed the butt of his and the Ottoman Empire The main Allied rifle into the enemy He swung so hard the countries were the United Kingdom France and Russia with the United States joining in handle shattered With only one weapon 1917 Because the European countries had left a nine inch 23 cm knife Johnson colonies and international agreements World War I eventually spread around the globe and fought on Johnson received multiple included roughly 30 countries injuries but he got in one last fatal blow as he slashed at the German preparing to kill him Suddenly the Germans heard the sound of Johnson's reinforcements and fled Sinking to the ground with a total of 21 wounds Johnson lobbed a final grenade and passed
