George Johnson

ASN:34192755

George Willis Johnson registered for military service on July 1, 1941. Born November, 19, 1919 he was from Greeneville, Tennessee. He was described as 5'-8", 155 pounds, blue eyes, brown hair with a light complexion with no identifying marks listed.

This twenty-one-year-old was employed in the ice cream industry working for Pet Dairy Products Company in Greeneville, Tennessee at the time of his registration. He enlisted in the US Army on March 13, 1942 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.

Stationed at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana in March of 1942 he was assigned to the Service Battery of the 82nd Airborne where he achieved the rank of Private First Class. In July 1942, Johnson was given a short furlough to his hometown.

Following his training at Fort Bragg, PFC Johnson was deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations arriving in Casablanca, Morocco, May 10, 1943, assigned to the Medical Detachment of the 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division. The 319th trained in North Africa until September 1943.

On September 11, 1943, PFC Johnson landed on the beach of Maiori, Italy, and fought with the 319th in their first combat mission. He later fought during the Normandy D-Day invasion, gliding into combat with the Medical Detachment the evening of June 6, 1944.

On September 18, 1944, PFC George Johnson again departed England by glider for the Holland campaign along with Captain John Doherty and Private Raymond Lane. His glider overshot the landing zone and crash landed in enemy territory near Zyfflich, Germany, where he was taken prisoner. Johnson was wounded during the landing, however, Doherty and Lane where killed in action.

In March 1945, PFC George Johnson was released from Stalag 3C Alt Drewitz, Brandenburg, Germany, due to the advance of the Russian Army and repatriated with his unit. He arrived in the USA June 1945 and detached from the service August 17, 1945 at Fort McPherson, Georgia at the rank Tec 5.

Tec 5 George Johnson was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, 4 Bronze Battle Stars, Bronze Arrowhead, Glider Badge, World War II Victory Medal, French Fourragere of the Croix De Guerre, Militaire Willems-Orde, Purple Heart w/Oak Leaf Cluster, Prisoner of War Medal.

George Willis Johnson Jr., 53, died September 15, 1973. God Bless this hero.