Charles Leroy Johnson
Corporal, U.S. Army

On 29 May 1953, Corporal Charles Leroy Johnson was serving as a Medical Aidman with the Medical Company attached to Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, and his unit was engaged with enemy forces at Sanae-dong, Korea. The 3rd Platoon of Company B, spearheading an assault against "Carson Outpost," was pinned down by heavy concentrations of mortar fire and suffered numerous casualties. CPL Johnson moved fearlessly about the impact area comforting and ministering to the wounded, and assisted Aidmen in adjacent platoons in treating and evacuating casualties. As the enemy action increased in tempo, fragments from a mortar burst struck CPL Johnson, completely blinding him. Dazed and unable to see, he still crawled among his comrades, attending to their needs and offering words of encouragement until he was mortally wounded. CPL Johnson's indomitable spirit and unflinching courage during nearly five hours of battle was an inspirational example of valor to all who observed him and earned CPL Johnson the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Medical Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Charles L. Johnson (ASN: US-53064153), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Corporal Johnson distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Sanae-dong, Korea, on 29 May 1953. On that date, the 3d platoon, spearheading an assault against "Carson Outpost," was pinned down by heavy concentrations of mortar fire and suffered numerous casualties. Constantly vulnerable to withering fire and bursting shells, Corporal Johnson moved fearlessly about the impact area comforting and ministering to the wounded, and assisted aidmen in adjacent platoons in treating and evacuating casualties. As enemy action increased in tempo and fury, fragments from a mortar burst struck him and completely blinded him. Although dazed, shaken, and unable to see, he pursued his heroic task and crawled among his comrades, attending their needs and offering words of encouragement until he was mortally wounded. Corporal Johnson's indomitable spirit and unflinching courage throughout nearly five hours of bitter conflict set an inspirational example of valor to all who observed him, reflecting the highest credit on himself, and upheld the finest traditions of the military service.

General Orders: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 84 (November 3, 1953)

Memorialization

The remains of Corporal Charles Leroy Johnson have never been recovered. He is memorialized with his name inscribed on Court 6 of the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, HI.

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