Memorial

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Henry Johnson graduated from the University of Florida in 1942 and was immediately commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He served in the States for several months during which time he was promoted to First Lieutenant. In September 1943, he was sent to England.

He was reported wounded in action on 11 October 1944 and had to recover in a hospital in England for three months. He returned to his regiment in January 1945 and in February was promoted to Captain and given command of F Company.

The chaplain of Capt Johnson's unit, Capt Luke Bolin, wrote the following to his parent: "On March 28, this Division crossed the Rhine river and began a rapid push which sealed this Ruhr pocket and took us within sixty-miles of Berlin", the chaplain's letter revealed. "On April 17, combat command 'A' in conjunction with the 30th Infantry Division, began an attack on the city of Magdeburg, Germany. From a hill outside the city I watched the attack begin and then went back to the medical company support our part of the attack. Before very long some slightly wounded men from 'F' Company came in for treatment and they informed me that Captain Johnson had been killed in action. A little later an Infantry Lieutenant whose infantrymen were working with 'F' Company, came in and told me how it happened. As they were advancing through the suburbs of the town he was wounded and Captain Johnson got out of his tank to remove him to a safe position. Then, unfortunately, a German bazooka shell, which they were using as an anti-tank weapon and artillery, hit near them and shrapnel from it killed Captain Johnson. The Infantry Lieutenant had the highest praise for Captain Johnson as an efficient Combat Officer and was very sad that he was killed. His body was evacuated in the United States Military Cemetery at Margraten near the city of Maastricht, Holland, and laid to rest after a Protestant chaplain had conducted an appropriate funeral service."

Two brothers also served. Lt Joseph S. Johnson served with the Army Air Corps as a pilot and Horace A. Johnson was an aviation Cadet Horace A. Johnson in the U.S. Navy.