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| Staff Sergeant Robert Johnson was twice awarded the Bronze Star with the 16th Infantry Regiment. He was killed in action on D-Day. |
Announcement: In just a few days we will be starting a project that will result in the stories of all 400,000 plus of the World War 2 fallen at one online location. There will be an accompanying smart phone app to allow users visiting any war memorial to scan the fallen serviceman's name and be linked to his story. Watch this blog or join the WW2 Fallen 100 Facebook page to learn of upcoming details.
Robert was born on February 5, 1920 in Chicago, Illinois. His parents Forest and Ruth were also born in Illinois. His father worked in an ironworks and as a bricklayer. Robert was an only child. At some point the family moved to Elizabeth, New Jersey where Robert graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School.
Robert was drafted into the Army in April 1942 and served in Company I of the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. The 1st ID departed for England in April 1942 to join a large contingent of US troops slated for participation in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. Pvt. Johnson joined the 16th IR in time for it’s amphibious assault landing on 8 November 1942 near Arzew, French Morocco. His parents were notified later that month that he was reported missing in action on 9 November 1942 and surely feared the worst for their only son. On 6 December 1942 the family gratefully received word that Pvt. Johnson was alive and in good health.
After the North African campaign, Pvt. Johnson was promoted to Corporal. The 16th IR next took part in the invasion of Sicily with an amphibious landing on 10 July 1943. After Sicily was captured, the 16th IR returned to England, where Cpl. Johnson was promoted to Staff Sergeant. In England, the 16th IR endured seven months of grueling training in preparation for the Allied invasion of Europe.
On 6 June 1944 the 16th IR were part of the first wave that went ashore at Omaha Beach in Normandy. Later that month SSgt. Johnson’s parents were again notified that he was missing in action and feared the worst, but held out hope that he would turn up alive as he had before. Hope turned to grief in August when they received a letter from one of SSgt. Johnson’s fellow soldiers telling them that their son was killed in action during the D-Day landing. He was later posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for his actions that day. The citation reads in part:
“For Heroic Achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy in the vicinity of Colleville, Normandy, France, June 6, 1944....When his landing craft was destroyed by underwater mines, throwing men and equipment into the sea, Sergeant Johnson swam ashore, procured a rifle from a casualty and despite heavy enemy mortar, artillery, and machine gun fire, courageously formed a successful attack upon a numerically superior force....In performance of his duty, Sergeant Johnson was mortally wounded.”
SSgt. Johnson was also posthumously awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star Medal for his earlier actions in Sicily. The Bronze Star medals were presented to his mother 14 September 1945 at a ceremony on Governors Island, New York.
Robert Edward Johnson is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey.
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This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them."
Last year on this date I profiled Okinawa Fallen Chester Hash of the 6th Marine Division. You can read about Chester 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.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by
The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation
“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”
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