George Alfred Johnson 
was born in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania (near Reading) on September 26, 1922. 

George's father, Alfred, was an earlier war hero.  Alfred was born in Russia and emigrated to England.

While in England, Alfred Johnson trained at a military academy and served in the British military intelligence, speaking 6 languages. During WW I, Alfred was severely wounded at Belleau Wood, just before the US Marines landed and helped to win the battle. Alfred was one of 19 survivors of an attachment of 117 troops who were mowed down my German machine gun fire.  He was captured and remained a prisoner of war until the armistice. He carried a large scar across his forehead from the bullet wound.

After the war Alfred moved to America in Reading where he met Isabella Gerhard, who worked at the boarding house in which he stayed.  Alfred and Isabella married and started a family. George's father moved his family to Coatesville in 1930 and lived at 140 E. Chestnut St. Alfred worked on the Spackman Farm, on Black Horse Hill, then at Brandywine homes, and at with Lukens Steel as a flanger.

George Alfred Johnson was one first of seven children: George, Gloria, Mary Jane, Don, Gary, Edna Mae, and William.. He was a member of the YMCA, worked part time as a pin-boy at the Y bowling alleys, and later as a welder at Lukens Steel.  He is remembered as a very hard worker, and really gave himself to his family and friends.

George attended Scott High School in Coatesville, Class of 1942.  He left school his senior year to enlist in the Marine Corps on January 28, 1942. He went through basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, and advanced infantry training at Quantico, Virginia.  George was attached to the 1^st Marine Raider Battalion as a Private First Class.

George shipped overseas in April, 1942.  He participated in the invasion of Tulagi, in the Florida Islands, just across from Guadalcanal. The Marines landed on both Guadalcanal and at Tulagi on August 7, 1942, as “Operation Watchtower” the first amphibious landings conducted by our Nation during the war, and the first since 1898. 

During the second day of the battle, on August 10, 1942, George was killed by the Japanese.  He was awarded the Purple Heart, and the Silver Star for his gallantry. The Silver Star was originally designated only for Army personal, but was authorized for the Naval Services by Congress on August 7, 1942 as the service’s 4th highest medal. 

According to Government records “During mop-up operations…his squad came under rifle fire from a sniper’s nest in a nearby cave.  Private Johnson rushed to the mouth of the cave and continued to throw in grenades until he was killed, allowing his squad to advance.  For his indomitable fighting spirit and outstanding bravery, Private Johnson was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.”

George was buried on Guadalcanal, and is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the Manila American cemetery in the Philippines. 

He was the first reported to die in service to his Country during WWII from Coatesville, although John Horshock and Leff Yale died the day before a few miles distant.

Honoring a Hero

The Navy honored George Johnson by naming a new ship after him.  The USS George A. Johnson DE-583, was launched at Bethlehem Shipyard in Hingham, Massachusetts on January 12, 1944.  The ship was constructed largely with steel plates manufactured at Lukens Steel in Coatesville. George’s Mother, Mrs. 

Click the picture to see a larger version.

Alfred R. Johnson, christened the vessel.  At the commissioning ceremony on April 15^th, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson presented the Captain with a 9 by 12 drawing of their son, a work of Mrs. Franklin Beltrando of Coatesville.

The USS George A. Johnson was a destroyer escort of the Rudderow Class, displacing 1,450 tons, 300 feet long, a beam of 37 feet.  The ship was crewed by 186 officers and men.  The ship served both in the Atlantic and Pacific as an escort ship.  In the Pacific, her job was to protect larger ships and supply convoys traveling between Pearl Harbor and various bases in the China Sea, Okinawa, Philippines and the South Pacific.  After the war she was decommissioned in 1946, then later assigned to the 12th Naval Reserve district as a training ship from 1950 to 1957.

In November of 1965, the George A. Johnson entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Mare Island, California, where the name Johnson was struck from the Navy list.  After that the ship was made available for salvage.

At home, the City of Coatesville re-named streets in the Brandywine Homes development to honor George and another local war hero, John J. Toth.

Pictured at right, George's sister, Mary Jane Mentzer and Navy sailor Harold W. Moyer, who served aboard the U.S.S. George A. Johnson, stand at the corner of two streets named for George and John J. Toth.

Harold Moyer of Kutztown served on the USS Johnson during the War, and discovered that George lived in the area.  He found family members, and through his interest, articles were published by Coatesville Ledger writer Joe D’Angelo, honoring George.

At left, George's sisters, Gloria Seece (far left) and  Mary Jane Mentzer (far right), his brother Gary (holding the picture), and Harold Moyer stand behind a front-yard memorial to honor their brother.

George’s brothers Gary and Don served the Navy during the war.  Don, was murdered at the Laundromat he managed in Coatesville, in 1993.

Credits:

• Researched and written by: Don Wambold WCMSC member
• Photo retouching/enhancement and additional text:  Dave Williams