|
|
|
|
|
|
Tribute and Memorial to
Robert Allen Johnson November 5, 1913 - February 15, 2005
Click on Memorial picture to find Robert Allen Johnson's tribute on the
I have been very fortunate in my life to be exposed to several common heroes. Bob Johnson is one of them. It is fitting and appropriate that I respectfully add my Father-in law to my brother Ken's web site. Bob Johnson was born on November 5, 1913 near Braddyville, Iowa. He was born to Clyde A. Johnson and Grace E. (Lathrop) Johnson. Bob passed away on February 15, 2005 at Clarinda Regional Health Center He is laid to rest in Shearer Cemetery in Braddyville Iowa. He is laid as close as a mile from where he was born. Bob's funeral announcement click on image to enlarge Braddyville is located several miles South of Clarinda, Iowa where Bob lived the last years of his life. Braddyville is a farming community of rolling farm land separated by rows of brush, and woods. Creeks run all through the area. From the time anyone can remember Bob Johnson hunted and trapped throughout the area when he was not farming. He was an extraordinary outdoorsman. He always seemed to be more comfortable in the woods and fields than anywhere else. Before the war Bob left Braddyville with his brother looking for work. They worked across the country in places like Imnaha, Oregon, and in California. Bob drove teams of horses in various farming areas. He was in Canby, California on December 7, 1941when the Japanese struck US soil without warning. Bob Johnson was 28 years old. Like so many of his fellow Americans he was moved to act on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor declaring war upon the United States of America. I can only imagine what went through his mind when he heard news of the attack. Take the time and click on the Microphone to view a site and
listen to some of the actual radio broadcasts And listened to President Franklin D. Roosevelt speak to the nation the December 8, 1941 the following day.
Click on the towers to hear President Roosevelt's radio address on December 8, 1941
A copy of President Roosevelt's address. Click on image to enlarge The words must have hit very hard for Bob Johnson because by December 13, 1941 he had joined the United States Marine Corp in Denver, Colorado, apparently making the trip from Canby, California (according to documents provided). I wonder what he was thinking as he traveled the distance. I imagine he thought about destroying the Japanese and returning home. After basic training Bob got his wish to fight the Japanese.
Assigned to active duty December 13, 1941 His war campaigns in the Pacific Theater from December 20. 1942 to May 30, 1943 and from November 10, 1944 to October 19, 1945: May 26, 1942 - July 2, 1942 - The defense of Midway Island
August 9, 1942 to February 8, 1943 - Action against the enemy at Guadalcanal. Visit this journal page to see another Marines account of what took place.
He was also on the island of Tulagi during this campaign.
April 1, 1945 to June 21, 1945 - Served at Okinawa on Ryukyu Island Apr 01, 1945 — Marines and Army forces land on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands
Jun 21, 1945 — Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, is declared secured 82 days after the landing Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945 Robert A. Johnson was a Private First Class He became a Marksman - Rifle on August 12, 1943 His duties are listed as: Machine Gun Crewman Field Artillery Crewman Guard
Bob Johnson Honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corp October 30, 1945
Here is a poem by Bob Johnson. He had taught his daughter the poem of Sam McGee. They could recite different sections back and forth between themselves. I imagine this poem about his experiences in the war is much like that of The Cremation of Sam McGee. Experience of a U.S. Marine By Robert Johnson
Bill Smith was a peaceful guy An American boy for fair. He had no quarrel with anyone But a war was in the air.
The draft it made him pretty mad ‘Cause he liked his freedom well. The inside of an army camp Looked to him like so much hell.
He’d followed a plow on an Iowa farm And drawn a cowhands wage. He’d worked beside the lumberjack He loved the smell of the pine sage.
On December 7 of ’41 he was out with That special date. The happiest guy in all the world With his school ma’m and a Ford V8.
When he heard about Pearl Harbor How the Japs had struck us there. He could hardly believe the radio It sure got in his hair.
He tho’t, I’ve waited long enough, A little too long it seems. So to help make up for this lost time I’ll join the U.S. Marines.
I’ve heard that they are the first to fight These soldiers of the sea They carry the war where the enemies are Now that’s the outfit for me.
His mother and sweetheart kissed him His father shook his hand. His throat was full as he said goodbye To his dear ones and his native land.
He joined up in Denver Had to stand in line. It seemed a lot of other boys Craved a shot at those Nipponese swine.
The recruiting Sergeants gaudy blues Made him stop and look again. But when he looked into their eyes He knew that they were men.
The Dr. looked him over And said "You’re all O.K." The old first Sergeant took his oath, Another fighting man was on his way.
T’was his first trip by Pullman The chow and the service were grand. They cheered him at every station And even broke out with a band.
He got to San Diego A Sergeant met him there. Took him to the Marine base And cut off all his hair.
They throwed him into boot camp Oh! What an awful place. With every kind of critter That’s known as the human race.
To get his uniform he waited There in line for hours. Then he could walk half way across the deck And never move the trousers.
There was a snooty Corporal there The rules said call him "Sir". Bill swore, "If I ever make two stripes I’ll skin off all his fur."
He had to salute that rascal And shine his liberty shoes. Before the second day was o’er He was singing those boot camp blues.
The chow was good but awfully scarce Of candy there was none. Bill swore he’d barbecue that D.I. And eat the son of a gun.
He told that D.I. where to go They throwed him in the brig. Then handed him a shovel And showed him where to dig.
They took him to the rifle range Said, "This is how my lad." Bill found some brand new muscles He didn’t know he had.
When he was tired of snappin in And his muscles all were sore. Along came the coach and said "my lad, we’ll just snap in some more."
Then when record day came round He shot a darn good score.
He’d been working awfully hard Before we ship him out. We’ll give him 6 hr. liberty And let him roam about.
He went to San Diego There was nothing he could find. There wasn’t any women And there wasn’t any wine.
He sailed for Pearl Harbor on Washington’s Birthday. Rarin’ to get right close to a Jap With nothing in his way.
He went to fair Hawaii Where the passion flower blooms. But the only Hulu he could find Was in the Honolulu rooms.
He started out to Midway On the_13th_day of December_. ** Got there ahead of Tojo In time to balk his play.
When he felt the bombs a bursting And heard the zeros roar. He knew he joined the right outfit If he wanted to go to war.
When he saw a zero fall in flames Before his roaring twenty. He yelled "Come on you yellow sons of hell And we will give you plenty."
The battle won and all secure He returned to Pearl Harbor. They gave him another 6 hr. leave So he could visit a barber.
On _August_ _1942_ he sailed again ** Not knowing where he was bound. But he had a hunch that there would be a fight ‘Ere his feet had touched the ground.
He sailed the seas for _30__days ** Then landed on Tulagi. Snipers were on every hand And every plane a bogey.
The situation well in hand As per usual with Marines. He was getting mighty hungry So he looked around for beans.
He found the chow dump all intact As well as one could wish. But all those Japs had left behind Was wormy rice and fish.
For three long weeks he ate the stuff And got the dysentery When he got some G.I. grub He ate all he could carry.
All quiet on Tulagi The Nips had all been tamed. They took him over to Guadalcanal To shoot at aero planes.
Everyday the Japs came o’er With 26 high bombers And a flock of whining zeros A lurking on the corners.
He’d just shot down a zero And was feeling mighty big. "Hey," yells the Sergeant. Pvt Smith there’s a garbage pit to dig."
Now Pistol Pete had a 6 in. gun Concealed in a jungle valley. And every time the Marines would start to chow He’d drop one in their galley.
Maytag Charley every night Would drop a flare or two. To show that Jap ship where we were And tell him what to do.
Then a battleship would open up And give us all he had. He hit a few darn good Marines And made ‘em awful mad.
The navy sent a message Says, "the Japs are breaking thru. They will try to land ‘ere morning Spite of all that we can do."
So the gun crew packed in a driving rain mid shrapnel from Pistol Pete. And went down to a jungle beach Just to have a grandstand seat.
They set their guns up in the dark And the did the job alright. Their few short weeks of training Served them well that night.
The Japs they landed somewhere else It made him pretty mad. He didn’t get a single shot After all the work he’d had.
The army landed on our shore They bro’t a lot of peaches. They wouldn’t let the Marines go near Where they were stacked upon the beaches.
Then came the daily air raid The army scattered far and wide. Under logs and in old shell holes Just anyplace to hide.
The all clear sounds the army crawls out And came back to the beaches. They had a lot of corned beef left The Marines had all the peaches.
Now the armys taking over The Marines have done their job. We’ll go aboard a transport And wrap yarns with gob.
Bill’s proud to be a fighting man To keep his country free. And he’s planning all the things He’s gonna do on his next 6 hr. liberty.
** Dates were blank added at time of writing I want to take the time and thank June Johnson for lending the documents and some paperwork to authenticate the history of her husband.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
|
|
THANK YOU FOR VISITING OUR WEB SITE |
