Staff Sergeant Oscar J Johnson
Oscar J Johnson was born on April 2nd, 1889 in La Crosse, Wisconsin to Torval Johnson and Marie Larson, both Norwegian immigrants, and would soon be joined by seven sisters. After stopping school in the 7th grade to become a cigar maker’s apprentice, Oscar liked the prospects of the Marine Corps more and decided to enlist shortly after his 18th birthday on December 18th, 1905. Unbeknownst to Private Johnson, he would not see his family again for eight years. After completing basic training at the Marine Barracks in Brooklyn, New York, he was sent to the USRS Hancock at the New York Navy Yard for duty as a Marine Guard on May 3rd, 1906, but would spend nearly his entire time at the hospital with a bad sickness.
Cuba
With the collapse of the Cuban government in 1906, President Tomas Estrada Palma appealed to the United States for an intervention, and American President Theodore Roosevelt obliged. The 4th Expeditionary Battalion was formed on September 27th and assigned as part of the mission to prevent a civil war, patrol the island, protect American citizens, and ensure a free election. Private Johnson left his station to join this new unit at League Island, Pennsylvania and left aboard the USS Brooklyn for Cuba. On October 8th, they arrived, and after his unit was reclassified as the 2nd Marine Regiment, Private Johnson joined Company A stationed at Camp Columbia in Habana. Luckily, the Marines were viewed as a sign of success for the Cuban rebels’ cause and they voluntarily surrendered to Private Johnson and the men. After sorting the prisoners, and with the arrival of the US Army, their job was done and the Marines left Cuba on the 22nd and arrived back in the United States on the 28th. This was only the beginning of Private Johnson’s journey in the Marine Corps.
Philippines
A few months later, he boarded the USAT Sherman on January 5th, 1907 for transport to the Philippine Islands following the collapse of Philippine resistance by the American intervention. After arriving, Private Johnson joined Company C, 2nd Marine Regiment stationed at the Marine Base in Cavite on February 2nd. The regiment helped support the US Navy’s responsibilities for the military government of the Cavite Peninsula by manning outposts, garrisons, and patrolling the surrounding area for insurgents. In July, the regiment relocated to Camp Dayton, Grande Island, and as the situation in the Philippines gradually returned to normal, the Marines took advantage of the terrain to train and march. After ten months overseas, Private Johnson boarded the USAT Sherman at Manila on September 14th and returned to the United States on October 16th.
The year 1909 brought about Johnson’s first promotion to Corporal on February 3rd and a transfer to the Marine Barracks located in Washington D.C. It also marked the beginning of his first and certainly not his last run in with the military law system. From 1:25 AM on March 25th until 7:30 PM on the 26th, Corporal Johnson went AWOL from his post and was promptly convicted and sentenced to 30 days restriction. The next nine months were without incident, and during this time, he qualified as a sharpshooter, a feat for shooting left handed, and reenlisted in the Marine Corps on December 18th. On January 11th, 1910, Corporal Johnson was awarded his first Good Conduct Medal #1332 and became a mail orderly early in the year.
China
In May, Corporal Johnson left the United States for the third time to join Company B, American Legation Guard in Peking, China. After a brief stop in the Philippines, Corporal Johnson landed in China and joined the Legation Guards on August 15th. Their guard compound was roughly 465 by 330 feet and adjacent to an equally sized diplomatic compound that they would be protecting. It was nearby that a handful of China Marines famously fought off Boxers and Imperial troops during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, and the site was rich in Marine history. Not very long after taking up his new duties in China as a Guard, Corporal Johnson once again caused trouble. In November, he was found guilty of neglect of duty which occured on October 30th, when he relieved a guard with a Private who was drunk and causing a disturbance, and was demoted back to Private by order of Captain Richard William. Infuriated, Private Johnson penned a grievous letter meant to damage the Captain’s reputation and mailed it to a US Senator. In May of 1911, his letter was brought to light and he was immediately arrested to await trial. His accusations were found to have violated US Navy Regulations Article 282 and were deemed wholly false. As a result, Private Johnson was found guilty, forced to pay $59, and placed in solitary confinement for 38 days.
Upon release, he was sent to special duty at the compound’s range in August. Two months later, a Chinese Revolution meant to overthrow the Qing Dynasty rocked the country and placed the China Marines in a precarious position. The revolutionaries successfully ended the dynasty on February 12th, 1912 and installed the new Republic of China without touching Private Johnson’s compound, at least for the time being. 17 days later, the local Chinese garrison rioted and forced the Marines to man the perimeter for several weeks. With tensions extremely high, Private Johnson was given special duty with the Legation’s town patrol on April 23rd to monitor the compound, and also qualified as an expert marksman. For the next ten months, he remained in China while the Marine garrison was strengthened by an additional three companies before finally leaving aboard the USS Abaranda on March 5th, 1913.
Arriving back in the US on May 17th, Private Johnson joined the US Navy Disciplinary Barracks in Puget Sound and promptly got into more trouble. On June 10th, he was absent from his post between 7:30 AM and 2:30 PM and was given two weeks restriction. Regardless, he was given command of the detentions work party at the Disciplinary Barracks and even became the Commanding Officer’s orderly for a short time. With the end of his enlistment period rapidly approaching, Private Johnson reenlisted and still managed to get his second Good Conduct Medal for “very good” character even after all he had done during the year.
Mexico
After his approved three month furlough which he used to visited his family for the first time in eight years, he was transferred to the 28th Company, 4th Marine Regiment for “temporary foreign tropical shore service” on April 27th, 1914, which turned out to be in Mexico. Tensions had flared between the US and Mexican government after nine unarmed American sailors had been arrested, causing President Woodrow Wilson to order the US Navy to occupy the port of Veracruz. This included Private Johnson’s unit, who boarded the USFS West Virginia and arrived in Acapulco Harbor on April 28th. Instead of landing, the ship maintained its presence in Mexican waters by patrolling the shore for the next two months. When tensions eased between the two countries, Private Johnson returned to the United States in June to be stationed at Camp Howard, California, thus concluding his first Latin American expedition.
The next month saw Johnson promoted back to the rank of Corporal and his new assignment as an instructor at the camp’s target range due to his skill with firearms, which led to another marksman qualification on September 26th and a Silver Medal for 4th place in the November 4th Shooting Competition while with the Marine Corps Division Team. When the Mexican Civil War resumed in late 1914, Corporal Johnson was called on once again to accompany another expedition in Mexico. On June 17th, 1915, he boarded the USS Colorado, the flagship of the Pacific Reserve Fleet, and sailed for Guaymas, Mexico, arriving on the 26th. The ship patrolled Mexican waters and kept in touch with interned merchant ships for the next two months, during which Corporal Johnson received a bronze medal for the 1915 Marine Corps Shooting Competition. On August 11th, the USS Colorado returned to the United States, ending Corporal Johnson’s second deployment to Mexico.
Dominican Republic
Two months later, he joined the 26th Company, 4th Marine Regiment on November 26th, and then rejoined his old unit, the 28th Company, in April of 1916. Shortly after, the Dominican Republic broke out into a civil war after the United States, who already had a presence in the country due to their rising debt and political instability, demanded greater access to their finances and the replacement of their military by an American Constabulary force. This led to the collapse of the newly installed government of President Juan Isidro Jimenez by revolutionaries and prompted a US military intervention that Corporal Johnson would take part in. In addition, the US was concerned that the German military could possibly use the country as a base to launch attacks on the US if they entered WW1. So, on June 12th, the 28th Company, 4th Regiment left San Diego aboard the USS Hancock and arrived at Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic. After a few days of preparations, the Marines began their march to Santiago on the 26th, where the rebels had set up their rival government.
“We met with a lot of fighting every day since we began to go inland” recalled Corporal Johnson. The first resistance encountered was at the end of the first day, when the Marines ran into “Las Trencheras,” a series of fortified rebel trenches positioned on two ridges that blocked the road that they needed to march over. The Marines charged the enemy lines the following morning, supported by artillery and machine gun fire, and routed the rebels at bayonet point, suffering one killed and four wounded. The 4th Regiment had just experienced its first taste of combat.
Battle of Guayacanas
Corporal Johnson and his unit continued to advance inland to pursue the retreating rebels under occasional sniper fire, and on July 2nd, his unit set up camp for the night at Kilometer 64 along the road to Santiago. The very next morning, Corporal Johnson and the Marines attacked dug in rebel positions on a ridge that bisected this road. Heavy long range fire halted the advance, which necessitated the call up of machine guns for support. Machine gunner Corporal Joseph Glowin brought his gun behind a large log along the road and began firing at the trenches. He continued firing after being wounded until he was dragged away from his position after being hit a second time.
Cuba
With the collapse of the Cuban government in 1906, President Tomas Estrada Palma appealed to the United States for an intervention, and American President Theodore Roosevelt obliged. The 4th Expeditionary Battalion was formed on September 27th and assigned as part of the mission to prevent a civil war, patrol the island, protect American citizens, and ensure a free election. Private Johnson left his station to join this new unit at League Island, Pennsylvania and left aboard the USS Brooklyn for Cuba. On October 8th, they arrived, and after his unit was reclassified as the 2nd Marine Regiment, Private Johnson joined Company A stationed at Camp Columbia in Habana. Luckily, the Marines were viewed as a sign of success for the Cuban rebels’ cause and they voluntarily surrendered to Private Johnson and the men. After sorting the prisoners, and with the arrival of the US Army, their job was done and the Marines left Cuba on the 22nd and arrived back in the United States on the 28th. This was only the beginning of Private Johnson’s journey in the Marine Corps.
Philippines
A few months later, he boarded the USAT Sherman on January 5th, 1907 for transport to the Philippine Islands following the collapse of Philippine resistance by the American intervention. After arriving, Private Johnson joined Company C, 2nd Marine Regiment stationed at the Marine Base in Cavite on February 2nd. The regiment helped support the US Navy’s responsibilities for the military government of the Cavite Peninsula by manning outposts, garrisons, and patrolling the surrounding area for insurgents. In July, the regiment relocated to Camp Dayton, Grande Island, and as the situation in the Philippines gradually returned to normal, the Marines took advantage of the terrain to train and march. After ten months overseas, Private Johnson boarded the USAT Sherman at Manila on September 14th and returned to the United States on October 16th.
The year 1909 brought about Johnson’s first promotion to Corporal on February 3rd and a transfer to the Marine Barracks located in Washington D.C. It also marked the beginning of his first and certainly not his last run in with the military law system. From 1:25 AM on March 25th until 7:30 PM on the 26th, Corporal Johnson went AWOL from his post and was promptly convicted and sentenced to 30 days restriction. The next nine months were without incident, and during this time, he qualified as a sharpshooter, a feat for shooting left handed, and reenlisted in the Marine Corps on December 18th. On January 11th, 1910, Corporal Johnson was awarded his first Good Conduct Medal #1332 and became a mail orderly early in the year.
China
In May, Corporal Johnson left the United States for the third time to join Company B, American Legation Guard in Peking, China. After a brief stop in the Philippines, Corporal Johnson landed in China and joined the Legation Guards on August 15th. Their guard compound was roughly 465 by 330 feet and adjacent to an equally sized diplomatic compound that they would be protecting. It was nearby that a handful of China Marines famously fought off Boxers and Imperial troops during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, and the site was rich in Marine history. Not very long after taking up his new duties in China as a Guard, Corporal Johnson once again caused trouble. In November, he was found guilty of neglect of duty which occured on October 30th, when he relieved a guard with a Private who was drunk and causing a disturbance, and was demoted back to Private by order of Captain Richard William. Infuriated, Private Johnson penned a grievous letter meant to damage the Captain’s reputation and mailed it to a US Senator. In May of 1911, his letter was brought to light and he was immediately arrested to await trial. His accusations were found to have violated US Navy Regulations Article 282 and were deemed wholly false. As a result, Private Johnson was found guilty, forced to pay $59, and placed in solitary confinement for 38 days.
Upon release, he was sent to special duty at the compound’s range in August. Two months later, a Chinese Revolution meant to overthrow the Qing Dynasty rocked the country and placed the China Marines in a precarious position. The revolutionaries successfully ended the dynasty on February 12th, 1912 and installed the new Republic of China without touching Private Johnson’s compound, at least for the time being. 17 days later, the local Chinese garrison rioted and forced the Marines to man the perimeter for several weeks. With tensions extremely high, Private Johnson was given special duty with the Legation’s town patrol on April 23rd to monitor the compound, and also qualified as an expert marksman. For the next ten months, he remained in China while the Marine garrison was strengthened by an additional three companies before finally leaving aboard the USS Abaranda on March 5th, 1913.
Arriving back in the US on May 17th, Private Johnson joined the US Navy Disciplinary Barracks in Puget Sound and promptly got into more trouble. On June 10th, he was absent from his post between 7:30 AM and 2:30 PM and was given two weeks restriction. Regardless, he was given command of the detentions work party at the Disciplinary Barracks and even became the Commanding Officer’s orderly for a short time. With the end of his enlistment period rapidly approaching, Private Johnson reenlisted and still managed to get his second Good Conduct Medal for “very good” character even after all he had done during the year.
Mexico
After his approved three month furlough which he used to visited his family for the first time in eight years, he was transferred to the 28th Company, 4th Marine Regiment for “temporary foreign tropical shore service” on April 27th, 1914, which turned out to be in Mexico. Tensions had flared between the US and Mexican government after nine unarmed American sailors had been arrested, causing President Woodrow Wilson to order the US Navy to occupy the port of Veracruz. This included Private Johnson’s unit, who boarded the USFS West Virginia and arrived in Acapulco Harbor on April 28th. Instead of landing, the ship maintained its presence in Mexican waters by patrolling the shore for the next two months. When tensions eased between the two countries, Private Johnson returned to the United States in June to be stationed at Camp Howard, California, thus concluding his first Latin American expedition.
The next month saw Johnson promoted back to the rank of Corporal and his new assignment as an instructor at the camp’s target range due to his skill with firearms, which led to another marksman qualification on September 26th and a Silver Medal for 4th place in the November 4th Shooting Competition while with the Marine Corps Division Team. When the Mexican Civil War resumed in late 1914, Corporal Johnson was called on once again to accompany another expedition in Mexico. On June 17th, 1915, he boarded the USS Colorado, the flagship of the Pacific Reserve Fleet, and sailed for Guaymas, Mexico, arriving on the 26th. The ship patrolled Mexican waters and kept in touch with interned merchant ships for the next two months, during which Corporal Johnson received a bronze medal for the 1915 Marine Corps Shooting Competition. On August 11th, the USS Colorado returned to the United States, ending Corporal Johnson’s second deployment to Mexico.
Dominican Republic
Two months later, he joined the 26th Company, 4th Marine Regiment on November 26th, and then rejoined his old unit, the 28th Company, in April of 1916. Shortly after, the Dominican Republic broke out into a civil war after the United States, who already had a presence in the country due to their rising debt and political instability, demanded greater access to their finances and the replacement of their military by an American Constabulary force. This led to the collapse of the newly installed government of President Juan Isidro Jimenez by revolutionaries and prompted a US military intervention that Corporal Johnson would take part in. In addition, the US was concerned that the German military could possibly use the country as a base to launch attacks on the US if they entered WW1. So, on June 12th, the 28th Company, 4th Regiment left San Diego aboard the USS Hancock and arrived at Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic. After a few days of preparations, the Marines began their march to Santiago on the 26th, where the rebels had set up their rival government.
“We met with a lot of fighting every day since we began to go inland” recalled Corporal Johnson. The first resistance encountered was at the end of the first day, when the Marines ran into “Las Trencheras,” a series of fortified rebel trenches positioned on two ridges that blocked the road that they needed to march over. The Marines charged the enemy lines the following morning, supported by artillery and machine gun fire, and routed the rebels at bayonet point, suffering one killed and four wounded. The 4th Regiment had just experienced its first taste of combat.
Battle of Guayacanas
Corporal Johnson and his unit continued to advance inland to pursue the retreating rebels under occasional sniper fire, and on July 2nd, his unit set up camp for the night at Kilometer 64 along the road to Santiago. The very next morning, Corporal Johnson and the Marines attacked dug in rebel positions on a ridge that bisected this road. Heavy long range fire halted the advance, which necessitated the call up of machine guns for support. Machine gunner Corporal Joseph Glowin brought his gun behind a large log along the road and began firing at the trenches. He continued firing after being wounded until he was dragged away from his position after being hit a second time.
Corporal Johnson and his company were still pinned down within a twenty feet radius of Glowin’s machine gun when his company’s First Sergeant Roswell Winans exposed himself and “cooly opened fire on the trenches and when the gun jammed, stood up and repaired it under fire.” It was in this small area that one Marine was killed and seven wounded, including Corporal Johnson. “I was shot in the jaw. The bullet went down my shoulder for about six inches” he remembered. Their combined efforts caused the rebels to withdraw in the afternoon, and the Marines occupied the ridge and continued their advance. Both Corporal Glowin and First Sergeant Winans were awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions during the Battle of Guayacanas.
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Corporal Johnson however, would not accompany them when they seized Santiago and instead was transported to the USS Solace where he would spend nearly two months recovering from his wounds before rejoining the 28h Company at the Artillery Barracks on August 25th and placed in charge of its Police Section. On September 6th, Johnson was promoted to Sergeant, and wasted no time in getting into trouble once again. On October 17th, he was court martialed “for making a false statement” to his commanding officer, but was acquitted of the charge by the end of the month. The next month, American forces in the Dominican Republic established a military government and split the country into zones of occupation, with Sergeant Johnson’s 4th Regiment stationed in the north in places such as the Railroad Station, Fortaleza, Fort San Felipe, and Jumbre. In April of 1917, the Marines received word that the United States had formally entered World War One, but the war in Europe would have to wait for a while.
On August 19th, Sergeant Johnson was sent to detailed duty with the Guardia National Dominicana by the 4th Marine Regiment’s commander, and the Commandante of the Guardia placed him in command of its 8th Company as their acting Captain four days later. Sergeant Johnson and the GND would help the Marines suppress banditry problems in the country for the next few months and disarm the populace. On one occasion, Johnson single handedly “captured one bandit leader who sworn that no man would ever capture him” and took his sword as a prize. In November, he was transferred over to command the 6th Company, GND until returning to his Marine unit in January of 1918 when his enlistment expired. Once again, Sergeant Johnson was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and reenlisted on February 19th to join the 33rd Company, 4th Provisional Regiment located at the Company Corral in Santiago. Beginning in March, he contracted a serious sickness that confined him in a hospital for five months, and afterwards, he boarded the USS Hancock and returned to the US for more treatment.
Returning home
After another four months in a hospital at his new assignment at the Barracks Detachment, Marine Base, Charleston, South Carolina, he returned to duty and was back to his old ways. On March 25th, 1919, he was charged with “neglect of duty as Sgt of the guard” and sentenced to lose $15 of pay, but luckily for him this charge was cancelled. Shortly afterwards, Sergeant Johnson was given duty at the barrack’s rifle range until having his rank reduced back to Private when transferred to the Depot of Supplies in Charleston, South Carolina on May 9th for guard duty and as a messenger. Luckily, this change in rank only lasted until December 19th when he was promoted back to Sergeant. The next ten years of his service were relatively uneventful. During this time however, he was transferred to the Depot of Supplies, Hampton Roads Virginia where he became their acting First Sergeant, qualified as a rifle expert, pistol sharpshooter, and expert rifleman multiple times, and reenlisted twice with the Good Conduct Medal being awarded to him each time for excellent character.
Nicaragua
Finally, Sergeant Johnson’s long stint stateside came to an end. Nicaraguan guerilla leader Augusto Sandino had recently returned from his year long exile in Mexico, and more Marines were to be brought in to supervise the new election and counter possible attacks. On June 23rd, 1930, Sergeant Johnson boarded the USS Lexington bound for Nicaragua and joined the Electoral Detachment, 2nd Marine Brigade in Managua on July 2nd. As was his tradition when going overseas, Johnson wasted no time in getting court martialed on August 25th and demoted to Corporal. Afterwards, they quickly whisked him away for temporary duty with a Marine Detachment in Chinandega until November 5th, and later in the month he boarded the USS Wicks to join the Marine Barracks in Hampton Roads, Virginia on the 29th. This would mark Corporal Johnson’s last overseas deployment.
On August 19th, Sergeant Johnson was sent to detailed duty with the Guardia National Dominicana by the 4th Marine Regiment’s commander, and the Commandante of the Guardia placed him in command of its 8th Company as their acting Captain four days later. Sergeant Johnson and the GND would help the Marines suppress banditry problems in the country for the next few months and disarm the populace. On one occasion, Johnson single handedly “captured one bandit leader who sworn that no man would ever capture him” and took his sword as a prize. In November, he was transferred over to command the 6th Company, GND until returning to his Marine unit in January of 1918 when his enlistment expired. Once again, Sergeant Johnson was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and reenlisted on February 19th to join the 33rd Company, 4th Provisional Regiment located at the Company Corral in Santiago. Beginning in March, he contracted a serious sickness that confined him in a hospital for five months, and afterwards, he boarded the USS Hancock and returned to the US for more treatment.
Returning home
After another four months in a hospital at his new assignment at the Barracks Detachment, Marine Base, Charleston, South Carolina, he returned to duty and was back to his old ways. On March 25th, 1919, he was charged with “neglect of duty as Sgt of the guard” and sentenced to lose $15 of pay, but luckily for him this charge was cancelled. Shortly afterwards, Sergeant Johnson was given duty at the barrack’s rifle range until having his rank reduced back to Private when transferred to the Depot of Supplies in Charleston, South Carolina on May 9th for guard duty and as a messenger. Luckily, this change in rank only lasted until December 19th when he was promoted back to Sergeant. The next ten years of his service were relatively uneventful. During this time however, he was transferred to the Depot of Supplies, Hampton Roads Virginia where he became their acting First Sergeant, qualified as a rifle expert, pistol sharpshooter, and expert rifleman multiple times, and reenlisted twice with the Good Conduct Medal being awarded to him each time for excellent character.
Nicaragua
Finally, Sergeant Johnson’s long stint stateside came to an end. Nicaraguan guerilla leader Augusto Sandino had recently returned from his year long exile in Mexico, and more Marines were to be brought in to supervise the new election and counter possible attacks. On June 23rd, 1930, Sergeant Johnson boarded the USS Lexington bound for Nicaragua and joined the Electoral Detachment, 2nd Marine Brigade in Managua on July 2nd. As was his tradition when going overseas, Johnson wasted no time in getting court martialed on August 25th and demoted to Corporal. Afterwards, they quickly whisked him away for temporary duty with a Marine Detachment in Chinandega until November 5th, and later in the month he boarded the USS Wicks to join the Marine Barracks in Hampton Roads, Virginia on the 29th. This would mark Corporal Johnson’s last overseas deployment.
Retirement
During 1931, he was promoted back to Sergeant and in early 1932, contracted another sickness that kept him in bed for four months. After having countless court martials and run ins with the Marine Corps judiciary system, his last assignment would ironically be as the prison warden for the Detention Prison in Norfolk, Virginia. He would carry out inspections, security measures, and disciplinary proceedings as head of the prison without incident for the next four years, receiving his fifth Good Conduct Medal and a promotion to Staff Sergeant on April 3rd, 1935. He would officially retire from the Marine Corps on May 1st of the same year after nearly thirty years of service. World War Two Returning to his family home, Oscar lived with his mother, sister, and her daughter, and competed in multiple American Legion rifle matches as a lefty and won multiple medals due to his superior marksmanship. When the United States was dragged into WW2 on December 7th, 1941, Oscar signed up for the draft but was not called up for duty. Determined to do his part, he commanded Company M of the Wisconsin State Guard as a Captain while also coaching five women from the La Crosse State College in rifle and pistol shooting. On the 173rd anniversary of the Marine Corps in 1948, Oscar was the honored guest of the USMC league of La Crosse, since he was the oldest living marine in the county. He was the guest of honor once again on the 180th anniversary, and wore his old dress blues set to the banquet to cut the cake. Never moving away from La Crosse, Oscar passed away there on November 20th, 1963, having never married, but serving his country well beyond the call of duty. |