Johnson Family History

My maternal grandfather, Joe Johnson (4/23/1889-3/09/1968) and his cousin, Leander Johnson, married two sisters: Marcantel was thier surname. Leander's son, was Leroy Johnson. That is how we are related.

Camp Leroy Johnson in New Orleans, Louisiana, formerly known as the New Orleans Air Base, is located on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain in the area bounded west by Franklin Ave. south by Leon C. Simon Dr. and east by Inner Harbor Navigation Canal. The area is occupied today by the University of New Orleans. Two former buildings of the base still remain. The "smokestack" was incorporated into an Alumni Building and a barrack remains as a record storage building.
The base used jointly with the New Orleans Airport for training during World War II. It was transferred to the Air Service Command and became part of the New Orleans Port of Embarkation facilities. Signal and Quartermaster units were trained on the post and it housed a Transportation Corps Officer Candidate School and a Replacement Training Center.

The base was named after World War II Medal of Honor recipient Leroy Johnson. He was a native of Caney Creek, Louisiana and served as a Sergeant, U.S. Army. He died on December 15, 1944 near Limon, Leyte, Philippine Islands shortly after he threw himself on two enemy grenades saving two comrades. In 1947 the New Orleans Navy Air Base was renamed Camp Leroy Johnson in his honor.

Birth: unknown
Death: Dec. 15, 1944

WW II Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Leroy Johnson was born in Caney Greek, Louisiana. He served as a Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company K, 126th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division. On December 15, 1944 near Limon, Leyte, Philippine Islands Sergeant Johnson as squad leader was sent to patrol a ridge held by a well-entrenched Japanese force. Seeing an enemy machinegun, which covered the approaches to several other enemy positions, he chose three other men, armed them with hand grenades, and led them to a point near the objective. 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 two unexploded grenades that had fallen near he and his men. He deliberately threw himself on the grenades and received their full charge into his body. Fatally wounded by the blast, he died soon afterward. Sgt. Leroy Johnson received his Medal of Honor posthumously and it was accredited to the state of Louisiana. In 1947 the New Orleans Army Air Base was renamed Camp Leroy Johnson in his honor. (bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)

Burial:
Manila American (ABMC) Cemetery and Memorial
Manila, Philippines
Plot: C-10-79

Record added: Jun 24 2003
By: T.L. Watson