![\"\"](\"http:\/\/image2.findagrave.com\/photos\/2011\/240\/73158886_131466939339.jpg\")
\nWayne Archer “Johnnie” Johnson
\n16 December 1931 – 1 June 2011<\/p>\n
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PFC Wayne A. \u201cJohnnie\u201d Johnson was an 18-year-old soldier.\u00a0 His first permanent duty assignment was occupation duty in Japan.<\/p>\n
In July 1950, he received his second assignment:\u00a0 Korea.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t pleasant.<\/p>\n
Johnson\u2019s unit was part of the Army’s 24th Infantry Division.\u00a0 In early July, they were deployed from Japan to Korea.<\/p>\n
After arriving at the front, Johnson\u2019s unit was committed to the Battle of Chochiwon.\u00a0 On his sixth day at the front, near Chochiwon, Johnson was taken prisoner.<\/p>\n
Not long afterwards, as part of a group of 758 POWs and civilian internees Johnson was moved to North Korea.\u00a0 The group was moved under the command of a brutal North Korean Major referred to as \u201cthe Tiger\u201d – giving rise to the name “Tiger Group”.\u00a0 At least one straggler was executed in cold blood during the move as an example for the other prisoners.<\/p>\n
Of the group, nearly 500 died before the end of the war.\u00a0 The first occurred, tragically, from friendly fire.\u00a0 A building in which the POWs were held during the move north was strafed, killing several US personnel.<\/p>\n
Conditions for POWs were abysmal.\u00a0 Record-keeping of any type by POWs was forbidden by their captors.<\/p>\n
Johnson knew that, and the risks involved.\u00a0 He decided to ignore the prohibition.<\/p>\n
He began recording POW deaths.\u00a0 Just the basics:\u00a0 name, rank, date of death, unit, and hometown.<\/p>\n
Johnson used stolen supplies to record his lists.\u00a0 He was discovered once, and severely beaten.\u00a0 His list was confiscated as \u201cpropaganda\u201d.<\/p>\n
Johnson wasn\u2019t dumb, though.\u00a0 He\u2019d made a second copy of his list and hidden it in another location.<\/p>\n
He continued keeping his list.\u00a0 At the end, Johnson had documented the deaths of 496 members of the original 758 \u201cTiger group\u201d of POWs.<\/p>\n
After the Korean War, Johnson was repatriated.\u00a0 Shortly before he was to be released, the Red Cross gave all returnees a small bag of supplies.\u00a0 In that bag was a metal toothpaste tube.<\/p>\n
Johnson removed the toothpaste, washed the tube, and used that to store his list.\u00a0 It was in that tube that the list returned to US control with Johnson.<\/p>\n
The list was noted during Johnson\u2019s debriefing.\u00a0 The debriefer wrote a memo recommending Johnson be commended for his actions.\u00a0 But for whatever reason, the memo \u2013 and Johnson\u2019s list – was then forgotten for 40+ years.<\/p>\n
But it wasn\u2019t to stay forgotten forever.<\/p>\n
. . .<\/strong><\/p>\n The \u201cTiger Survivors\u201d periodically held reunions.\u00a0 In 1995 (or 1996; accounts differ), Johnson attended such a reunion.\u00a0 He mentioned his list to other survivors.\u00a0 A DPMO staffer at the reunion also heard of the list.<\/p>\n Johnson\u2019s original debriefing files were rechecked.\u00a0 The original memo recommending him for commendation was forwarded to HQ, Department of the Army.<\/p>\n In 1996, the Army corrected a 40+ year old oversight.\u00a0 Johnson was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery in keeping the list as a POW.<\/p>\n Johnson\u2019s list survives in digital form here<\/a>.\u00a0 Though not all 496 names were recoverable from his original list, the vast majority were.<\/p>\n After the Korean War, Johnson became a resident of Texas. Sadly, Wayne Archer “Johnnie” Johnson passed away in 2011 at age 79.\u00a0 He\u2019s buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX.<\/p>\n . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n Years later, Johnson was asked why he risked his life to maintain his list.\u00a0 After all, his list couldn\u2019t really help the dead, and could well get himself (and anyone else who knew of it or helped him) severely punished or killed.\u00a0 Indeed, it had gotten Johnson severely punished on one occasion.<\/p>\n For Johnson\u2019s response, see the title of this article.<\/p>\n Well done, my elder brother-in-arms.\u00a0 Well done indeed.<\/p>\n Rest in peace.<\/p>\n —————————<\/p>\n Notes on sources:<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0 The DPMO web page concerning Johnnie Johnson’s list is linked above.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0 The LA Times published a good article concerning Johnson and his list<\/a> when he was awarded the Silver Star in 1996.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0 A second source with additional details may be found here<\/a>.\u00a0 Numerous others also exist.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0 Information on the Battle of Chochiwon may be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0 Johnson’s memorial page may be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"