Johnsons memory was revived in the 1970s by Albany-area veterans and public officials who believed he had been unfairly denied the honors he deserved, and they worked for decades, joined by Herman Johnsons family, to right that wrong.
Tara Johnson had expected for months to be in that soldiers place once it became clear the uphill fight for the honor was won. Still, she was at the ceremony along with her cousin, a Vietnam veteran also named Herman Johnson. Her son, DeMarqus Townsend, a Marine who fought insurgents in the Iraqi c
Herman Johnson traveled from his Kansas City, Missouri, home for events in Albany and lived long enough to join then-Gov. George Pataki and others for an Arlington National Cemetery ceremony marking a belated award of the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest medal for bravery, to Henry Jo
Eneny, a former Albany County historian and state assemblyman, was involved in efforts as early as 1972 to restore the memory of Johnson. He believes Herman Johnsons mother, for whatever reason, held out Henry Johnson as the father, deciding, perhaps, Im going to give my child a role model.
