Samuel Hazelhurst Johns

Samuel Hazelhurst Johns’ 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 Samuel H. Johns (ASN: 2337044), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 372d Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, A.E.F., near Bussy Farm, France, 28 September 1918. After several other runners had been killed or wounded, Private Johns volunteered to carry a message over fields swept by heavy machine-gun fire and artillery bombardment. He succeeded in delivering the message, but was severely wounded while on the return trip.

Purple Heart 8 August 1932

Citation: Awarded Purple Heart August 8, 1932 due to wounds incurred in action on September 28, 1918.

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Life & Service

  • Birth: 24 July 1891, Philadelphia, PA, United States
  • Place of Residence:
  • Race/Ethnicity: African American
  • Death: 14 December 1960 Boston, MA, United States
  • Branch: Army
  • Military Rank: Private
  • Company: [L]
  • Infantry Regiment: 372nd
  • Division: 93rd
Personal Narrative
Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education) Toggle Accordion

Samuel Hazelhurst Johns was born to Samuel (1854-1934) and Esther (Hawkins) (1865-1908) on July 24, 1891 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the third of eight children; Katherine (1881-?), Blanche (1888-1978), Christina (1894-1958), Charles (1897-1965), Cecelia (1900-?), Harold (1902-1985) and Mary (1905-1997).

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

Samuel enlisted in the United States Army on 23 May 1917 in Boston, Massachusetts. Private Johns and his company left Newport News, Virginia on the U.S. Army Transport Ship Susquehanna on 30 March 1918, arriving in Brest, France on April 6, 1918. Private Johns received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on 28 September 1918, near Bussy Farm, 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 Samuel H. Johns (ASN: 2337044), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company L, 372d Infantry Regiment, 93d Division, A.E.F., near Bussy Farm, France, 28 September 1918. After several other runners had been killed or wounded, Private Johns volunteered to carry a message over fields swept by heavy machine-gun fire and artillery bombardment. He succeeded in delivering the message but was severely wounded while on the return trip”.

Awarded DSC by CG, AEF, November 7, 1918. Published in G.O. No. 13, W.D. 1919. Awarded Purple Heart August 8, 1932 due to wounds incurred in action on September 28, 1918.

Private Johns and his company left Brest, France on the U.S. Army Transport Ship Agamemnon on 3 March 1919, arriving in Hoboken, New Jersey on 11 March. Private Johns was Honorably Discharged on 1 April 1919 at Camp Devens, Massachusetts.

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

Grandson David Timothy Johns notes the following, “Upon his return to the U.S., Mr. Johns received rehabilitation therapy at the Chelsea VA Hospital. He was a very quiet, patriotic man, who always marched in the Nov. 11 Veterans Parades. As a result of the leg injury he was in pain most of his life, but never complained. One bullet was left in his leg”.

Samuel married Ruth Celeste Guilford (1895-1979) in 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts, they had six children; Vera (1923-2013), Anthony (1925-1973), Samuel Jr. (1927-1998), Clifford (1929-2016), Dorothy (1931-?) and Wilfred (1932-2014). Samuel worked as a clerk, later mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service, South Post Station, Boston, Massachusetts.

Samuel died of a heart attack in Boston on 14 December 1960 and is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Mattapan, Massachusetts.