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| PFC Othell Johnson served with the 3rd Marine Division in the Battle of Guam. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10604163/othell-johnson https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Guam/index.html |
Othell "Bob" Johnson never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on September 21, 1919 in Texas. His parents Moses and Nellie were born in Arkansas and Oklahoma, respectively. His father worked as a farmer. Bob had one older brother and one younger sister. By 1940 Bob had completed six years of schooling. He was married to Rachel Marlow and worked as a truck driver.
He enlisted in the US Marines in September 1943. He became a private first class in Company L, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. The 3rd MD first saw action in Bougainville in November 1943 where it was engaged in 27 days of continuous action.
PFC Johnson landed on Guam on the first day of the attack which was July 21, 1944. More than two weeks later, the 3rd Marine Division was part of the final four day drive from August 7 to August 10 that would officially end the battle. The leathernecks had more trouble fighting the thick jungle than the unorganized enemy. PFC Johnson was killed on the final day of the Battle of Guam, August 10, 1944. There was a last stand from some Japanese tanks and he may have been killed in that engagement.
His grave is at Van Alstyne Cemetery in Van Alstyne, Texas. I don't know what happened to his widow.
Last year on this date I profiled Distinguished Service Cross hero and B-17 gunner Arizona Harris. You can read about Arizona here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
R.I.P.......SALUTE!!!
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