Henry L. Johnson was born on September 15, 1919 in the town of Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County, Washington to Olaf Johnson and Ingeborg (Inga) Johnson, nee Braaten. Both of Henry’s parents were Norwegian immigrants. Henry’s siblings were Oliver, Laura, and Edward Johnson. The family lived in Aberdeen, where Olaf was a carpenter.

Henry Leonard Johnson registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. He was 21 years old, 5’10” tall, and weighed 145 pounds. He had brown hair, blue eyes, and a light complexion. He lived in Aberdeen and was employed by the G.H. Chair Company in Hoquiam, Washington. He enlisted in the United States Army on April 3, 1941 in Tacoma, Washington. He was single, without dependents and had a completed two years of college.

Sergeant Henry L. Johnson served in 163rd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division. The 163rd Infantry Regiment served on the west coast of the United States until its departure to Australia in April 1942. The 163rd Infantry Regiment was participated in the Battle of Buna–Gona, part of the New Guinea campaign. The battle was fought by Australian and United States forces against the Japanese beachheads at Buna, Sanananda and Gona. On January 17, 1943, in the last battle of the campaign, the 163rd Infantry attacked the village of Sanananda. Sergeant Henry L. Johnson was killed in action on January 17, 1943, probably during this battle.

Sgt. Henry Johnson is buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines (Plot D, Row 3, Grave 183). He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

This story is part

of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org).

This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of

the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3. Can you help write

these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial

or cemetery.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact me at clock902@aol.com.

SBTSProject/Washington/Grays Harbor

Sources:

WWII Army Enlistment Records, https://www.fold3.com/record/90961222/henry-l-johnson-wwii-army-enlistment-records

American Battle Monuments Commission, https://www.fold3.com/record/529965178/henry-l-johnson-american-battle-monuments-commission

U.S. WWII Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954, https://www.fold3.com/record/702430634/johnson-henry-l-us-wwii-hospital-admission-card-files-1942-1954

WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualty List, https://www.fold3.com/image/310763494?rec=299419044

Findagrave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56783337/henry-l-johnson

1920 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/111323115:6061

1930 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/111677374:6224

1940 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/67434266:2442

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2473721:60722

Washington, U.S., Birth Index, 1907-1919, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/207739:6493

World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/36942671:2238

Henry L Johnson