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GROVER
CLEVELAND JOHNSON
Private,
Corps of Engineers, Army of the United States
GROVER
CLEVELAND JOHNSON was inducted into the Army from Pensylvania. Nicknmed
"Buddy", he was known by his fellow soldiers as very pleasant
person to be around, with an upbeat attitude who would tell jokes all
the time. He was
assigned to the 853d Engineer Battalion and was stationed at
Bradley Field, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, from until
January, 1943, when the Battalion was moved to Dyersburg Army Air Field
in Tennessee where he served until August, 1943.
Private
Johnson went overseas about September 13. His battalion was
attached to the Army Air Force, and was on its way to India by way of
the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal. The 853rd Engineers had the task of
taking over captured airfields and repairing them for the use of American
air units.
Private
Johnson met his death on November 26, 1943, while troops were
being transported on board the H.M.S. Rohna. The Rohna was
sunk off the coast of Africa near Bone, Algeria. when a guided missile
from a German plane struck her amidships. The missile impacted in a part
of the ship where the 853rd Engineers was quartered, and many were
killed instantly. As a friend who had just left him before the missile
stuck; says he never saw Private Johnson after it hit the ship, it is
likely that he was one of the many lost in the initial explosion. Heavy
seas and darkness hampered further rescue work, and 1015 Americans, more than half
of the 1,981 men aboard the ship, died in the attack.
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