Late Dutchess County vet awarded Congressional Medal of Honor

LAGRANGEVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A memorial wall stands at Arlington High School in LaGrangeville, Dutchess County.  It's a testament to the sacrifice of one of their graduates Charlie Johnson. His ultimate sacrifice during the Korean War led him to posthumously receive the highest honor in our country.

Principal Richard Carroll told NEWS10 why Johnson came to his school from nearby Millbrook in the 1950s. “He came to Arlington High School to attend his senior year. He saw Arlington as an opportunity to play football" Carroll explained.

The Principal says by all accounts Johnson made a lasting impression. 

"He was very charismatic, he was a giving person,” Carroll continued.

That giving spirit would follow Johnson into the service when he enlisted in the Korean War, America’s first war featuring an integrated military. Caroll says it was there Johnson's heroism was displayed. 

“His unit was given the rare order to hold all costs which is a pretty rare order…and they were being attacked by thousands of Chinese soldiers in North Korea…and it was an intense firefight…and a number of his fellow soldiers were wounded including another high school graduate Don Dinge” Carroll recounted.

That's right! By chance, Johnson happened to be on the battlefield with an alumni of his high school. He saved a white schoolmate, an act transcending the racial strife at the time.

"A number of them were injured. Charlie rushed to give them first aid and dragged them to safety when they lost all their weapons brought additional weapons so they could defend themselves and another attempt to keep defending them kept them from being overrun he was unfortunately killed," Carroll continued explaining.

After Charles Johnson’s June 1953 death, his story would go unrecognized for years.  Caroll says in large part due to Johnson’s race. But on January 4th the nation would know Johnson’s story. President Biden posthumously awarded him the Congressional Medal of Honor. Superintendent Phil Benantewas at that ceremony where Johnson’s youngest sister Juanita Mendez accepted the award on his behalf. 

"I think they were equally overwhelmed and Charlie had, there's about 15 members of the Johnson family a few of whom had a private meeting with President Biden prior to the ceremony and I could see the sense of pride and joy that they had" Benante recalled.

Today, the school has pride and joy in the values that they say Johnson embodied: Patriotism, integrity compassion loyalty selflessness courage, brotherhood, and responsibility.

The school is working with a local congressman to make honoring Charlie Johnson part of Dutchess County’s greater Memorial Day celebration in May.