Leroy Johnson was a United States Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

 soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...

—for his actions in World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. Camp Leroy Johnson

Camp Leroy Johnson

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 London Ave. south by Leon C. Simon Dr. and east by Inner Harbor Navigation Canal. The area is occupied today by the University of...

 in New Orleans, LA, was renamed after him in 1947.

Biography

Johnson joined the Army from Oakdale, Louisiana

Oakdale, Louisiana

Oakdale is a small city in Allen Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,137 at the 2000 census.Oakdale was founded as "Dunnsville" by William T. Dunn...

, and by December 15, 1944 was serving as a Sergeant in Company K, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. On that day, near Limon, Leyte, the Philippines

Philippines

The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

, he smothered the blast of two enemy-thrown grenade

Grenade

A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...

s with his body, sacrificing himself to protect those around him. For this action, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor ten months later, on October 2, 1945.

Johnson was buried at the Manila American Cemetery in Manila

Manila

Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...

, the Philippines. A bronze memorial plaque in his honor was mounted on the wall of the Oberlin, Louisiana

Oberlin, Louisiana

Oberlin is a town in and the parish seat of Allen Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,853 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Johan Friedrich Oberlin.-Geography:Oberlin is located at ....

, courthouse. Johnson was from Oakdale, just a few miles north of Oberlin in Allen Parish

Allen Parish, Louisiana

Allen Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Oberlin. As of the 2000 census, the population was 25,440. Allen Parish is in southwestern Louisiana, southwest of Alexandria....

.

Medal of Honor citation

Sergeant Johnson's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II