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0658301
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George Alfred Johnson was born in Fleetwood, Pa. on 26 September 1922 and was the first of seven children: George, Gloria, Mary Jane, Don, Gary, Edna Mae, and
William. He was a member of the YMCA, worked part time as a pin-boy at the Y bowling alleys, and later as a welder at Lukens Steel. He is remembered as a very hard worker, and
really gave himself to his family and friends. George attended Scott High School in Coatesville, Class of 1942. He left school his senior year to enlist in the Marine Corps on
28 January 1942. He went through basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, and advanced infantry training at Quantico, Virginia before sailing for the Pacific in April 1942.
Attached to the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, Private Johnson participated in the invasion of Tulagi, Solomon Islands on 07 August 1942. During mop-up operations 2 days later, his squad
came under rifle fire from a sniper's nest in a nearby cave. Private Johnson rushed to the mouth of the cave and continued to throw in grenades until he was killed, allowing his squad
to advance. For his indomitable fighting spirit and outstanding bravery, Private Johnson was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) (1944-1957) was the first ship to be named in his honor.
(Photo Courtesy of Chester County, Pennsylvania Hall of Heroes thanks to David G. Williams - Administrative Project Leader) |
Bill Gonyo
Downey, Cal.
Assoc. Researcher
Navsource |
0658306 |
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12 January 1944: Hingham, Mass. - USS George A. Johnson enters the water for the first time. |
0658302 |
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date/location unknown: A war time view of George A. Johnson underway.
(U.S. Navy photos #CP-DE-583 80-G-245444 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.; courtesy of Chris Wright) |
Ed Zajkowski
Narvon, Pa. |
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04 November 1944: Brooklyn, N.Y. - USS McNulty (DE 581) on the far side of a pier at New York, with USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) on the near side.
Both are wearing Measure 33a/26d camouflage scheme.. Two other unidentified DEs are tied to this pier. Both Johnson and McNulty were assigned to Escort Division 67,
which left for the Pacific the same day these photos were taken.
(U.S. Navy photo #80-G-287712 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.,
courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, Ships of the U.S. Navy in WWII “Dazzle” Camouflage) |
Mike Green
Port Angeles, Wash. |
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19 September 1945: Shanghai, China - This is a Signal Corps aerial of USS George A. Johnson in the Whangpoo River at Shanghai. Many naval vessels were arriving
that week as TF70.1, for occupation and service duties. Initially she was moored with USS Waller (DD 466).
(U.S. Navy photo #NA SC221171 from the Boston Public Library) |
John Chiquoine
West Chester, Pa. |
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Two wartime portraits of George A. Johnson that were given as a panorama view to crewmembers. The photos were in a frame on
each side of the War Cruise Map shown below in the memorabilia section. They were probably taken soon after Johnson's return to San Diego on 5 November 1945.
The top photo was done by Thompson Photo of Los Angeles, Cal.
The bottom photo of this trio is Paul's Dad, QM1 Edward F. Kemper, the photo was supplied
by Paul's Mom, Marie. |
Paul Kemper |
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22 August 1948: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) moored port side to on a port visit to Vancouver.
(Photo #AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-4737.2 by Walter E. Frost from the City of Vancouver Archives) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Manager, Navsource
DE / FF / LCS Archive
|
0658317 |
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23 August 1948: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Two views of USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) outbound following a port visit to Vancouver.
(Photo #AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-4737.1 and AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-4737 by Walter E. Frost from the
City of Vancouver Archives) |
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18 June 1949: Vallejo, Cal.- USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) off Mare Island with 130 civilians aboard from the National Editorial Association. |
Darryl Baker
PNCM, USNR (ret.)
Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum |
0658313 |
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August 1949: Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Cal. - USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) in the Mare Island Channel. She is on the east side of
the channel opposite from Mare Island.
(U.S. Navy photo #DE-583-4208-8-49TH) |
0658314 |
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August 1949: Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Cal. - USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) in the Mare Island Channel. She is on the Mare Island
side of the channel.
(U.S. Navy photo #DE-583-4209-8-49TH) |
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October 1952: Highlining with USS Thomas F. Nickel (DE 587) during a reserve cruise from San Diego to Pearl Harbor. |
Bob LeBaron |
0658319 |
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27 June 1955: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) stands off while preparing to moor for a port visit to Vancouver.
(Photo #AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-4738 by Walter E. Frost from the
City of Vancouver Archives) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Manager, Navsource
DE / FF / LCS Archive
|
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16 April 1956: Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, Cal. - USS George A. Johnson is berthed at Mare Island.
(U.S. Navy photo #DE 29260-4-56) |
Darryl Baker
PNCM, USNR (ret.)
Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum |
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undated: location unknown - Post-war photo of USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) at rest in an unknown port.
(U.S. Navy Photo, Local ID #428-N-1043491, NAID ID #148728290 from the United States National Archives)
|
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Manager, Navsource
DE / FF / LCS Archive
|
0658325 |
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undated: location unknown - Post-war photo of USS George A. Johnson (DE 583) underway at speed.
(U.S. Navy Photo, Local ID #428-N-1043492, NAID ID #148728292 from the United States National Archives)
|
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Beached after breaking tow enroute to San Diego, just prior to being broken up. |
- |
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This is a picture I took in 1966 of the destroyer escort George A. Johnson. It had broken a tow line while under tow from San Francisco to
San Diego having been sold for scrap. She washed up on the beach in Pacifica, Cal. just south of San Francisco. This was about a mile from my home at the time and this photo was taken
the morning after it had beached. It was stuck hard as it came ashore on a high tide and had to be cut up and hauled away by truck. This was quite the attraction for several weeks. A
couple of people managed to climb aboard and attempt to claim maritime salvage rights. They were quickly removed by the rightful owners. |
Richard Forgie |
0658322 |
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October 1966: Pacifica, Cal. - These photos were taken by my dad, Ruben Gomez, on the beach in Pacifica (where my family lived at the time).
In the top photo where the bow of the ship is visible, the people shown are my uncle Raul Del Muro, his wife Marta Del Muro, and their daughter Lisa Del Muro.
In the lower photo of the side of the ship, there is my aunt Marta Del Muro, my uncle Raul Del Muro, and Tina Gomez (my mom, and sister of Raul Del Muro). Their daughter Lisa is
sitting in front. Playing in the dirt in front is my cousin Mark Del Muro and my brother Robert Gomez. |
James Gomez |
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A news photo showing people walking near the beached George A. Johnson, from the Turkish newspaper Miliyet, published on 16 November 1966. |
Cüneyt Demir |
0658309 |
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03 February 1967: Two clippings from the San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard newspaper regarding the scrapping of George A. Johnson. San Francisco
Bay Naval Shipyard consisted of Mare Island and Hunters Point Naval Shipyards. It was the Navy's attempt to cut the overhead, but didn't work. |
Darryl Baker
PNCM, USNR (ret.)
Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum |
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