Arthur Johnson

Arthur Johnson’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.

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Military Honor(s):

Distinguished Service Cross

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Arthur Johnson (ASN: 2463695), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with HQ Company, 370th Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, A.E.F., near Mont des Singes, France, 30 September 1918. Acting as ammunition carrier, Private Johnson received a painful injury in the back from a shell fragment. While engaged in carrying ammunition he found a wounded man in an exposed position and, regardless of his own wound, carried the man under heavy shell fire to the first-aid station, a distance of more than a kilometer, returning to his work immediately afterwards.

Croix de Guerre with Silver Star

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Life & Service

  • Birth: 9 April 1888, Dayton, TN, United States
  • Place of Residence:
  • Race/Ethnicity: African American
  • Death: 20 August 1952 Portsmouth, VA, United States
  • Branch: Army
  • Military Rank: Corporal
  • Company: [HQ]
  • Infantry Regiment: 370th
  • Division: 93rd
Personal Narrative
Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education Toggle Accordion

Arthur Johnson was born to John (?-?) and Dealy (Love) (?-?) on April 9, 1888 in Dayton, Tennessee. In his teens, Arthur was a laborer for the H.C. Frick Coke Company in Scottsdale, Pennsylvania.

Service: Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations Toggle Accordion

Johnson was inducted into the United States Army at Marion Point, Pennsylvania on November 5, 1917. Primarily with HQ Co., 370th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division, Johnson also served within the 155th Depot Brigade (March 29, 1918), Camp Lee, VA Replacement Draft (May 28, 1918), and Co. K, 370th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division (June 28, 1918). Then-Private Johnson and his company left from Hoboken, New Jersey on the U.S. Army Transport Ship Finland on April 30, 1918, arriving in Brest, France on May 7, 1918. Johnson received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on September 30, 1918 near Mont de Singes, France;

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Arthur Johnson (ASN: 2463695), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 370th Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, A.E.F., near Mont des Singes, France, 30 September 1918. Acting as ammunition carrier, Private Johnson received a painful injury in the back from a shell fragment. While engaged in carrying ammunition he found a wounded man in an exposed position and, regardless of his own wound, carried the man under heavy shell fire to the first-aid station, a distance of more than a kilometer, returning to his work immediately afterwards”. Awarded DSC by CG, AEF, December 6, 1918. Published in G.O. No. 46, W.D., 1919.

Johnson was promoted to Corporal in late 1918. Johnson and his company returned to the United States on February 9, 1919; he was Honorably Discharged on February 27, 1919 at Camp Lee, Virginia.

Later Life (Post-War): Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s), and/or children, location and date of death Toggle Accordion

Sometime between 1920-1940, Johnson married Annie Mae (maiden name unknown) (1898-?); he worked as a miner in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, later a foreman for a government entity. Arthur Johnson died on August 22, 1952 in a hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia, he had no children.