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Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Sgt. James E. Johnson, USMC
Marine Sergeant James E. Johnson, 25, of Washington, D.C., and Pocatello, Idaho, was posthumously awarded the Nations highest decoration for his heroic lone fight on 2 December 1950, to cover the withdrawal of his platoon during the bitter Chosin Reservoir campaign in Korea. When last seen by his comrades he was wounded, but still engaging the enemy in close grenade hand-to-hand combat. The enemy were wearing the uniforms of friendly troops at the time. He was listed as missing in action until January 1954, when his death was presumed.
Sergeant Johnson, a veteran of the Peleliu and Okinawa campaigns in World War II, was the seventh Marine awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Korea.
The sergeant departed for Korea in August 1950, just five days after the birth of his daughter, Stephanie. The medal was presented to his widow, Mrs. Mary Jeanne Johnson on 29 March 1954, by Secretary of the Navy Robert B. Anderson. Medals of Honor were presented in the same Pentagon ceremony to the families of Sergeant Daniel P. Matthews and Corporal Lee H. Phillips .
In addition to his wife and daughter, Sergeant Johnson was survived by his mother, Mrs. Juanita Hart, of San Diego, California, and a sister, Mrs. Edwin L. Hanke, of Pocatello, Idaho.
Although Sergeant Johnson was serving with a provisional company of the 7th Marines when he earned the Medal of Honor, his regular outfit was the 11th Marines, the same regiment his father had served in during World War I.
Sergeant Johnson was born at Pocatello on 1 January 1926. He attended public schools there and played Junior varsity basketball for two years in high school before enlisting in the Marine Corps on 10 November 1943. After serving in the Pacific theater and at San Diego, he was discharged on 7 February 1946, and returned to Pocatello, where he worked as a machinist in the Naval Ordnance plant. He also attended Western Washington College at Bellingham, Washington, before re-enlisting in the Marines on 13 January 1948.
The sergeant met his wife while he was stationed at Quantico, Virginia. They were married on 15 October 1949, and he embarked for Korea after a year as an instructor in post exchange accounting at the Marine Corps Institute, Marine Barracks, 8th and I Sts., S.E., Washington.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Sergeant Johnsons decorations included the Presidential Unit Citation with one Bronze Star for Korean service; the Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars; the Navy Unit Commendation for action on Peleliu; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars; the World War II Victory Medal; and the Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia Clasp.
CITATION:
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company J, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Yudam-ni, Korea, 2 December 1950 (declared missing in action on 2 December 1950, and killed in action as of 2 November 1953). Entered service at: Washington, D.C. Born: 1 January 1926, Pocatello, Idaho. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader in a provisional rifle platoon composed of artillerymen and attached to Company J, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Vastly outnumbered by a well-entrenched and cleverly concealed enemy force wearing the uniforms of friendly troops and attacking his platoon's open and unconcealed positions, Sgt. Johnson unhesitatingly took charge of his platoon in the absence of the leader and, exhibiting great personal valor in the face of a heavy barrage of hostile fire, coolly proceeded to move about among his men, shouting words of encouragement and inspiration and skillfully directing their fire. Ordered to displace his platoon during the fire fight, he immediately placed himself in an extremely hazardous position from which he could provide covering fire for his men. Fully aware that his voluntary action meant either certain death or capture to himself, he courageously continued to provide effective cover for his men and was last observed in a wounded condition single-handedly engaging enemy troops in close hand grenade and hand-to-hand fighting. By his valiant and inspiring leadership, Sgt. Johnson was directly responsible for the successful completion of the platoon's displacement and the saving of many lives. His dauntless fighting spirit and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of terrific odds reflect the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service.
Courtesy of Find A Grave
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