1LT Charles Richard Johnson

courtesy of John Evans

1LT Charles Richard Johnson was born 18 Mar 1919 in Redstar, West Virginia to Wiley Bledsoe and Estelle (Forbes) Johnson.  His father had worked as a bookkeeper for a coal mine operation.  By 1920 the family had moved back to Albemarle County, Virginia where Wiley farmed and then opened a general store and then returned to farming.  In 1940, Charles was working as an automobile salesman.

Charles augmented his income by enlisting in the Charlottesville national guard unit.  He was a member of K Company 116th Infantry when it was federalized in February 1941.  He attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissioned.  Returned to the regiment, he was assigned to A Company 116th Infantry from the replacement depot on 28 Jun 1944.  1LT Johnson was killed in action on 17 Jul 1944. 

1LT Johnson was repatriated and rests forever in Arlington National Cemetery.