- SURNAME
Johnson
- FORENAME
Charles Edward
- UNIT
1 Raider Bn (Company A)
- RANK
Private First Class
- NUMBER
853722
- AWARD
Navy Cross
- PLACE
Okinawa 1945
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 28.07.1924, Girard, Ohio
wife Suzanna E. (nee McLaughlin) (1924-2015)
4 children (Charles Jr, Joyce Ann, Jeanne and Rita)
resided Youngstown, Ohio
enlisted 15.05.1943
discharged 10.02.1946
1956 resided Cuyahoga Falls
died 14.03.1958, Aged 33 (died due illness)
buried Calvary Cemetery, Youngstown, Ohio, USA
CITATION:
Navy Cross : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Charles E. Johnson (MCSN: 853722), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as a squad leader with Company G, Third Battalion, Twenty-Ninth Marines, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 6 June 1945. Taking charge of the situation after his platoon leader and a number of his comrades had become casualties during an attack on a strongly defended enemy position, Private First Class Johnson reorganized the platoon which was being held up by heavy hostile machine-gun fire. Then, aggressively leading the final assault on the objective, he personally charged two enemy machine guns with a rocket launcher and, firing at point-blank range, destroyed both of the guns and their crews. After his platoon had occupied the hill, Private First Class Johnson courageously exposed himself to hostile fire to assist in sealing three cave positions from which the Japanese had been holding up the advance of adjacent Marine units. His gallant fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/8295https://marineraiderassociation.org/johnson-charles-e/
FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/228586842/charles-edward-johnson
Last edited by a moderator:
