Vernon Bryant Johnson (21, 14 July 1920, Camden, Missouri), a resident of Henrietta, Ray County, Missouri, signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. 926, Order No. 10-764) on 16 February 1942 in Richmond, Ray County, Missouri. He was unemployed. Vernon listed his mother, Mrs. Claude Johnson, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 11" in height, 190 lbs., with a ruddy complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.
He got a job with the Santa Fe Railroad (where his father worked).
Vernon B. Johnson enlisted in the U.S. Army (S/N 37239412) in November 1942. Later Private Johnson was assigned to Company C, 170th Engineer Combat Battalion, Corps of Engineers.
They were part of the U.S. 6th Army conducting offensive operations on the island of Leyte, Philippines in October 1944.
A team from the 170th were constructing a bridge just west of Dulag, Leyte. On 25 October 1944, a Japanese bomber scored a direct hit on a gasoline and ammunition supply dump which immediately set the surrounding area in flames. There was a terrific explosion and fire. At least 20 men from the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion were killed (see virtual cemetery for a list of the other men killed in the explosion). “Most of the remains recovered were badly mutilated and burned as a result of the explosion.” Another 17 men were killed and 28 missing from the 722nd Engineer Depot Company.
Private Vernon B. Johnson was one of those killed. He had been overseas with the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion for just six weeks.
He was first buried in 7740 USAF Cemetery, Leyte #1, Palo, Leyte, Philippines Islands – Grave 3381. After the war (autumn of 1947) his remains (along with 8,568 other American soldiers) were disinterred and brought to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin, Private Vernon Bryant Johnson's remains were brought back to the US and he was buried on 30 August 1948 in his final resting place at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, Kansas – Section G, Grave 97.
He got a job with the Santa Fe Railroad (where his father worked).
Vernon B. Johnson enlisted in the U.S. Army (S/N 37239412) in November 1942. Later Private Johnson was assigned to Company C, 170th Engineer Combat Battalion, Corps of Engineers.
They were part of the U.S. 6th Army conducting offensive operations on the island of Leyte, Philippines in October 1944.
A team from the 170th were constructing a bridge just west of Dulag, Leyte. On 25 October 1944, a Japanese bomber scored a direct hit on a gasoline and ammunition supply dump which immediately set the surrounding area in flames. There was a terrific explosion and fire. At least 20 men from the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion were killed (see virtual cemetery for a list of the other men killed in the explosion). “Most of the remains recovered were badly mutilated and burned as a result of the explosion.” Another 17 men were killed and 28 missing from the 722nd Engineer Depot Company.
Private Vernon B. Johnson was one of those killed. He had been overseas with the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion for just six weeks.
He was first buried in 7740 USAF Cemetery, Leyte #1, Palo, Leyte, Philippines Islands – Grave 3381. After the war (autumn of 1947) his remains (along with 8,568 other American soldiers) were disinterred and brought to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin, Private Vernon Bryant Johnson's remains were brought back to the US and he was buried on 30 August 1948 in his final resting place at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, Kansas – Section G, Grave 97.
Vernon Bryant Johnson (21, 14 July 1920, Camden, Missouri), a resident of Henrietta, Ray County, Missouri, signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. 926, Order No. 10-764) on 16 February 1942 in Richmond, Ray County, Missouri. He was unemployed. Vernon listed his mother, Mrs. Claude Johnson, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 11" in height, 190 lbs., with a ruddy complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.
He got a job with the Santa Fe Railroad (where his father worked).
Vernon B. Johnson enlisted in the U.S. Army (S/N 37239412) in November 1942. Later Private Johnson was assigned to Company C, 170th Engineer Combat Battalion, Corps of Engineers.
They were part of the U.S. 6th Army conducting offensive operations on the island of Leyte, Philippines in October 1944.
A team from the 170th were constructing a bridge just west of Dulag, Leyte. On 25 October 1944, a Japanese bomber scored a direct hit on a gasoline and ammunition supply dump which immediately set the surrounding area in flames. There was a terrific explosion and fire. At least 20 men from the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion were killed (see virtual cemetery for a list of the other men killed in the explosion). “Most of the remains recovered were badly mutilated and burned as a result of the explosion.” Another 17 men were killed and 28 missing from the 722nd Engineer Depot Company.
Private Vernon B. Johnson was one of those killed. He had been overseas with the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion for just six weeks.
He was first buried in 7740 USAF Cemetery, Leyte #1, Palo, Leyte, Philippines Islands – Grave 3381. After the war (autumn of 1947) his remains (along with 8,568 other American soldiers) were disinterred and brought to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin, Private Vernon Bryant Johnson's remains were brought back to the US and he was buried on 30 August 1948 in his final resting place at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, Kansas – Section G, Grave 97.
He got a job with the Santa Fe Railroad (where his father worked).
Vernon B. Johnson enlisted in the U.S. Army (S/N 37239412) in November 1942. Later Private Johnson was assigned to Company C, 170th Engineer Combat Battalion, Corps of Engineers.
They were part of the U.S. 6th Army conducting offensive operations on the island of Leyte, Philippines in October 1944.
A team from the 170th were constructing a bridge just west of Dulag, Leyte. On 25 October 1944, a Japanese bomber scored a direct hit on a gasoline and ammunition supply dump which immediately set the surrounding area in flames. There was a terrific explosion and fire. At least 20 men from the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion were killed (see virtual cemetery for a list of the other men killed in the explosion). “Most of the remains recovered were badly mutilated and burned as a result of the explosion.” Another 17 men were killed and 28 missing from the 722nd Engineer Depot Company.
Private Vernon B. Johnson was one of those killed. He had been overseas with the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion for just six weeks.
He was first buried in 7740 USAF Cemetery, Leyte #1, Palo, Leyte, Philippines Islands – Grave 3381. After the war (autumn of 1947) his remains (along with 8,568 other American soldiers) were disinterred and brought to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin, Private Vernon Bryant Johnson's remains were brought back to the US and he was buried on 30 August 1948 in his final resting place at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, Kansas – Section G, Grave 97.
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Private, 170 Engineer Battalion, World War II
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