"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 machine gun 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
machine gun 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
by the name of James L. Christopher from Mount Vernon, Ohio 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."
From PFC Johnson's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on July 19, 1945.
May you be at peace,
Brian & Mel
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