James Johnson

James Bernard Johnson was born 21 April 1924, on East Academy St, Wappingers Falls NY, in the home his grandfather Theodore C. Johnson built circa 1890. He enlisted in the USMC on 6 November 1942 in Albany, NY.

PFC Johnson was assigned to K Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands, when his unit landed against stiff Japanese resistance. PFC Johnson perished on the first day of battle, November 20, 1943. After the battle, those who died were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, remains were recovered, but PFC Johnson was not accounted for and remained on the list of Missing in Action/Body not Recovered.

In 2015, a nongovernmental organization, History Flight, Inc., notified the official Defense organization, DPAA, that a burial site was discovered on the island and the NGO had recovered what they believed to be 35 sets of remains believed to be United States Marines from the Battle of Tarawa.

He preceded his parents Charles C Johnson and Vera Martin Johnson, sister Eleanor McManus (Robert), brother Clayton W Johnson (Rita), and nephew Chester W Johnson.

He is survived by his nephews: James C. Johnson, great-nieces Stacey Brumbaugh (Jerry) & Shannon Cozzolino (Giovanni); John C McManus (Josephine), great nieces Kathleen McManus(Carlo DeBlasio) and Sherri Everett (Lou).

Welcome home, and rest in peace, PFC Johnson.
Semper Fidelis