Bruce Owen Johnson
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Bruce Owen Johnson served during World War II enlisting in the U.S. Army on September 12, 1946.
He was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey for 8 weeks of basic training. He was then assigned to Company “G” 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division at Beppu, Kyushu, Japan as a cook.
He was honorably discharged at Fort Lawton, Washington on December 18, 1947.His rank was Technical Sergeant.
On March 28, 1949, Mr. Johnson enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard Company “B” 136th Infantry Regiment 47th Infantry Division in Eveleth, Minnesota. He was recalled to active duty on December 26, 1950 and served until August 18, 1952.
He was honorable discharged from the Army National Guard on March 28, 1953. He held the rank of Sergeant First Class Mess Sergeant.
Mr. Johnson was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal(Japan).
He was born in Eveleth, Minnesota in 1928. He is the son of Arthur and Selma Johnson. He graduated from Eveleth High School in 1946.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account follows:
“I was born in October 1928 to Arthur and Selma (Niemi) Johnson in Eveleth, MN. I graduated in June 1946 from Eveleth High School and enlisted in the US Army on September 12, 1946 at Ft. Snelling, MN. I was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey for 8 weeks of basic training. After I completed basic training, and a short leave, I was sent to Camp Pendleton, California for deployment overseas.
We left San Francisco on November 29, 1946 on the General W.M. Black for Inchon Harbor, Korea. The replacement troops assigned to Korea debarked, then we set sail for Yokohama, Japan arriving on December 21,1946, a total of 22 days since we left San Francisco.
I was assigned to Company “G,” 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Division at Beppu, Kyushu; Japan’s most southern island. The troop train passed by the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where the atom bombs were dropped.
We arrived at the camp on December 24, 1946. After training and maneuvers in the mountain area I was assigned to the mess hall as a cook trainee. We worked 24 hours on duty and 24 hours off. After completing my tour of duty in Japan, I was sent to Yokohama for deployment back to the USA. We left Yokohama on December 7, 1947, arriving in Seattle, Washington on December 16, 1947. I was discharged at Fort Lawton, Washington on December 18, 1947.
March 28, 1949, I enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard Company “B,” 136th Infantry Regiment, 47th Division at Eveleth, MN for one year. I then extended my enlistment two more years. We were called to active duty on December 26, 1950 and sent to Camp Rucker, Alabama for training. I was promoted to the rank of SFC (T) Mess Sergeant for Company “B”. Later on I was transferred to the 47th Division replacement company on temporary duty as a Mess Sergeant. I was released on August 18, 1952 back to the MN National Guard in Eveleth, MN and discharged from the National Guard on March 28, 1953.”
