He jumped in Normandy,
France on D-Day, 6 June 1944 and was wounded.
When recovered, he joined his unit again and
jumped in Holland on 17 September 1944. This was
Operation Market Garden, the airborne landings
in The Netherlands, which aimed to capture the
bridges over the Waal and Rhine rivers. This
would open up the possibility of thrusting north
over the Rhine and then into Germany, bypassing
the feared Siegfried line.
After the landings and
conquering the bridge, British troops would come
from the Belgian/Dutch border and thrust north,
over the bridges captured by the 101st and 82nd
Airborne Divisions towards Arnhem, where the
British 1st Airborne Division was tasked with
the capture of the bridge over the Rhine.
Johnnie was killed in action on 19 September
1944, near St. Oedenrode. 2nd Battalion of the
502nd was tasked that day with clearing the
woods between St. Oedenrode and the Landing
Zone. Although accounts state that the object
was taken within 30 minutes and no Germans were
encountered, Johnnie's family received a letter
after the war from a buddy, Sgt Karl N. Rowe.
David ORear continues: "they were taking turns,
advancing a machine gun, and this guy got up and
advanced and Johnnie didn't come with him, he
thought that Johnnie went back to get more ammo,
but later found out that he was shot in the head."
The telegram which
brought Johnnie's family the news of his death (courtesy
of David ORear)
His company commander, Capt.
Raymond T. Smith, later wrote to the family:
"[...]For some days he carried on his duties
under trying and dangerous circumstances with
courage, skill and good spirit, contributing
more than his share to the eventual success of
our arms in that area.
On 19 September 1944, after
dashing across an open field to a new position
nearer the enemy, Johnnie was struck by machine
gun fire while in his exposed position and died
immediately. The effort made by him and his
comrades enabled the unit to advance to new
positions and drive the enemy from their
location.[...]"
The family
received this letter by divisional commander
General Maxwell D. Taylor (Courtesy of David
ORear)
Johnnie was first buried at
a local Temporary American Cemetery. Later he
was reburied at Margraten American Military
Cemetery.
In the late 1940's his
remains were reinterred at Coal City Baptist
Church Cemetery, in Jasper, Alabama.
(Photo
courtesy of Mr. David ORear)
(picture courtesy
of Ed Stallings)
