Oscar G. Johnson

Oscar G. Johnson, Jr.
Born	March 25, 1921(1921-03-25) Foster City, Michigan
Died	May 13, 1998(1998-05-13) (aged 77)
Place of burial	DeWitt Cemetery, De Witt, Michigan
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Rank	Chief Warrant Officer Four
Unit	363rd Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Medal of Honor

Oscar G. Johnson, Jr., (March 25, 1921 – May 13, 1998) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

Biography

Johnson joined the Army from his birth place of Foster City, Michigan, and by September 16, 1944 was serving as a private first class in Company B, 363rd Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division. On that day and the following two days, near Scarperia, Italy, he single-handedly held his position at his unit's left flank after all other members of his squad had been killed or wounded. He was subsequently promoted to Sergeant and, on July 19, 1945, awarded the Medal of Honor.

Johnson reached the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Four before leaving the Army. He died at age 77 and was buried in DeWitt Cemetery, De Witt, Michigan.

Medal of Honor citation

Johnson's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

He practically single-handed protected the left flank of his company's position in the offensive to break the German's gothic line. Company B was the extreme left assault unit of the corps. The advance was stopped by heavy fire from Monticelli Ridge, and the company took cover behind an embankment. Sgt. Johnson, a mortar gunner, having expended his ammunition, assumed the duties of a rifleman. As leader of a squad of 7 men he was ordered to establish a combat post 50 yards to the left of the company to cover its exposed flank. Repeated enemy counterattacks, supported by artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire from the high ground to his front, had by the afternoon of 16 September killed or wounded all his men. Collecting weapons and ammunition from his fallen comrades, in the face of hostile fire, he held his exposed position and inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy, who several times came close enough to throw hand grenades. On the night of 16–17 September, the enemy launched his heaviest attack on Company B, putting his greatest pressure against the lone defender of the left flank. In spite of mortar fire which crashed about him and machinegun bullets which whipped the crest of his shallow trench, Sgt. Johnson stood erect and repulsed the attack with grenades and small arms fire. He remained awake and on the alert throughout the night, frustrating all attempts at infiltration. On 17 September, 25 German soldiers surrendered to him. Two men, sent to reinforce him that afternoon, were caught in a devastating mortar and artillery barrage. With no thought of his own safety, Sgt. Johnson rushed to the shell hole where they lay half buried and seriously wounded, covered their position by his fire, and assisted a Medical Corpsman in rendering aid. That night he secured their removal to the rear and remained on watch until his company was relieved. Five companies of a German paratroop regiment had been repeatedly committed to the attack on Company B without success. Twenty dead Germans were found in front of his position. By his heroic stand and utter disregard for personal safety, Sgt. Johnson was in a large measure responsible for defeating the enemy's attempts to turn the exposed left flank.

See also

	Biography portal
	United States Army portal
	World War II portal

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

• "Oscar G. Johnson". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7977113. Retrieved 2008-01-28. 

• "Medal of Honor recipients - World War II (G–L)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-g-l.html. Retrieved 2008-01-28. 

Persondata
Name	Johnson, Oscar G.
Alternative names
Short description	United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
Date of birth	March 25, 1921
Place of birth	Foster City, Michigan
Date of death	May 13, 1998
Place of death