James Allen Johnson (June 2, 1924 – July 20, 2016) was a major general in the United States Army who served as Commandant of the U.S. Army Engineer School at Fort Belvoir, and as Deputy Chief of Engineers.[1][2] He was awarded two Distinguished Service Medals, the Silver Star, two Legion of Merit decorations, two Bronze Star Medals, two Purple Hearts, the Air Medal, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and the Parachute Badge.[2][3][4][5]
James A. Johnson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 2, 1924 Stoughton, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | July 20, 2016 (aged 92) Fairfax County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1944, 1947–1980 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | U.S. Army Engineer School U.S. Army Engineer Command, Vietnam |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
Born in Stoughton, Wisconsin to Norwegian immigrant parents, Johnson graduated from Stoughton High School in 1942. After studying at the University of Wisconsin for one semester, he was drafted into the Army on March 12, 1943, during World War II. Johnson was appointed to the United States Military Academy and graduated with a B.S. degree after three years of study on June 3, 1947. After serving as a combat engineer in Korea, he earned an M.S. degree in industrial engineering from Stanford University in 1957. Johnson later graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College in 1961 and, after a tour of duty in Vietnam, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1966. His second tour of duty in Vietnam was as commanding general of the U.S. Army Engineer Command and Director of Construction for the Military Assistance Command.[5][6][7]
Johnson retired from active duty in August 1980 and settled in Fairfax Station, Virginia. He died at Fort Belvoir and was buried in the West Point Cemetery on September 26, 2016.[5][8]
References
edit- ^ Shore & Beach. American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. ISSN 0037-4237. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
- ^ a b Obituary, James A. Johnson, Major General, US Army (Ret.). The Washington Post (July 31-Aug 2, 2016).
- ^ James Allen Johnson Awards and Citations Military Times Hall of Valor. Militarytimes.com.
- ^ "James Allen Johnson". The Boston Globe. Boston, MA. July 31, 2016. p. B7. Retrieved November 7, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "James Allen Johnson". Demaine Funeral Home. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ U.S. Army Register: United States Army Active and Retired List. Vol. I. U.S. Government Printing Office. January 1, 1966. p. 289. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ "Class of 1947—Register of Graduates". Official Register of the Officers and Cadets. United States Military Academy. 1971. p. 578. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ "Johnson, James Allen". Army Cemeteries Explorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
Sources
edit- "First Lieutenant James A. Johnson" 5th Regimental Combat Team, Remembering the "Forgotten War": U.S. Army Engineer Officers in Korea, pp. 146–57. Office of History, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (Alexandria, VA: July 2004).
- "Major General James A. Johnson", Engineer Profiles. Charles Hendricks, interviewer. Office of History, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (Washington, DC: 1993).
- "Where are they now? A look at former commanders of the Philadelphia District", 1968-1971: Col. James A. Johnson. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District.