JOHNSON, LEROY - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company K, 126th Infantry,
32d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Limon, Leyte, Philippine Islands,
15 December 1944. Entered service at: Oakdale, La. Birth: Caney Creek,
La. G.O. No.: 83, 2 October 1945. Citation: He was squad leader of a 9-man
patrol sent to reconnoiter a ridge held by a well-entrenched enemy force.
Seeing an enemy machinegun position, he ordered his men to remain behind
while he crawled to within 6 yards of the gun. One of the enemy crew jumped
up and prepared to man the weapon. Quickly withdrawing, Sgt. Johnson rejoined
his patrol and reported the situation to his commanding officer. Ordered
to destroy the gun, which covered the approaches to several other enemy
positions, he chose 3 other men, armed them with hand grenades, and led
them to a point near the objective. After taking partial cover behind a
log, the men had knocked out the gun and begun an assault when hostile
troops on the flank hurled several grenades. As he started for cover, Sgt.
Johnson saw 2 unexploded grenades which had fallen near his men. Knowing
that his comrades would be wounded or killed by the explosion, he deliberately
threw himself on the grenades and received their full charge in his body.
Fatally wounded by the blast, he died soon afterward. Through his outstanding
gallantry in sacrificing his life for his comrades, Sgt. Johnson provided
a shining example of the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.
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