Date:  1944

Image Number:  JH01cdJH01

Comments:  Gilbert Johnson joined the U.S. Navy on 08 November 1943.  After basic training, Gilbert joined the crew of the U.S.S. Morrison, a new destroyer commissioned in late 1943.  The Morrison departed from Pearl Harbor for the U.S. assault on the Mariana Islands in late May 1944. Later that year, the Morrison participated in destroyer operations in the battle of Leyte Gulf and the Luzon invasion in the Philippine Islands.  The Morrison was heavily damaged off Luzon and received a Navy Unit Commendation before it returned stateside for repairs.  In November 1944, Gilbert took leave to see his wife, Frances Marie Johnson and his baby daughter, Jill Marie (shown at right).  Gilbert also enjoyed visiting all of his Johnson siblings in Scottsville.

On the morning of 04 May 1945, the U.S.S. Morrison was standing radar picket duty off Okinawa when four Japanese suicide planes (Zekes) hit it in rapid succession.  Ripped apart, the Morrison sank in fifteen minutes and before there was time to abandon ship.  Gilbert and 151 of his shipmates were lost.  The Morrison received a second Navy Unit Commendation for this action.  Gilbert Johnson was declared killed in action and awarded a Purple Heart posthumously.

Gilbert Johnson - Seaman 1st Class, U.S. Navy. Asiatic-Pacific Theater. 08 November 1943 - 04 May 1945. KIA when his ship, U.S.S. Morrison was sunk by Japanese suicide planes off Okinawa on 04 May 1945.

The photo of Frances Marie Johnson, holding her daughter, Jill Marie Johnson, is part of the Rudy Johnson Schumaker collection.  Rudy resides in Scottsville, VA, and is the sister of Gilbert Johnson.