Joseph H. Johnson
Private First Class Joseph H. Johnson, 31st Signal Construction Battalion, U.S. Army. Serial: 32368004. He lived at 1273 South Merrimac Road, Camden NJ. Memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, North Africa American Cemetery, Carthage, Tunisia.
Private First Class Joseph H. Johnson was born in New Jersey in 1908 to Edward and Williamina Johnson. The family lived at 423 Cumberland Street in Gloucester City NJ at the time of the 1930 census. Joseph H. Johnson had a grammar school education and was working as an express truck driver at that time. He followed that trade until he entered the United States Army in Camden on October 24, 1942. He was unmarried at the time, but did marry prior to going overseas. Private Johnson was assigned with several other Camden men who were inducted at the same time to the newly formed 31st Signal Construction Battalion. After training in the United States, the unit shipped out for North Africa, with India and Burma being its intended destination. The battalion transferred to a British-owned troop carrier, HMT Rohna in North Africa, and was headed for the Suez Canal when attacked by German airplanes on November 26, 1943. The Rohna was struck by an air-to-ship guided missile, the first recorded attack of its kind, and sank, taking 1015 American servicemen to their deaths.
Due to the nature of the German “secret weapon” and the enormity of the loss, details of the sinking were kept secret for almost 50 years. A memorial service was held in Camden for Joseph Johnson and the 19 other South Jersey victims in July of 2002 at American Legion Post 274 in Camden, not far from Private Johnson’s peacetime home of 1273 South Merrimac Road. He was survived by his wife, Julia, and brothers Herman, Everett, and Lester, and a sister, Mrs. Viola Black, of Gloucester City NJ.
1 Killed, 1 Missing, 5 Wounded in War
Evening Courier —
South Jersey Casualties Include Lieut. B. L. Sooy, Prisoner of Nazis
A Camden soldier previously listed as missing in the sinking of a troopship in the Mediterranean last Nov. 27, is officially recorded as dead; a Maple Shade flier is missing over Austria, five others from this area have been wounded, and a bomber pilot, previously listed as missing is a prisoner in Germany, according to the War Department.
Dead: Pfc. Joseph N. Johnson, of 1273 South Merrimac road.
Word that Johnson is considered lost was contained in a telegram received by his wife, Julia. He was the son of Edgar Johnson, of 423 Cumberland street, Gloucester, and before entering the Army in November, 1942, was associated with a brother, Herman, in the moving business. Surviving, also, are a sister, Mrs. Viola Black, Gloucester, and two brothers, Everett and Lester. The latter is with the Army in Hawaii.
Several weeks ago Mrs. Johnson received word that her husband was missing.
15 Dead, 2 Missing From South Jersey
Evening Courier —
Former Camden Resident, Holder of Six Awards, Among New Casualties; Shiloh Flier Listed Downed in Europe
Fifteen South Jersey men were among the 1511 reported by the War Department today as killed in action on the six fighting fronts. Two others from this area are reported missing.
Killed:
Staff Sergeant Ronald J. Pearce, of 330 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, formerly of 3404 Federal Street, Camden.
Private First Class Charles La Porta, of 142 Chestnut Street, Williamstown.
Private Frank Ballerino, of 2004 South 10th Street, Camden.
Sergeant Elmer F. Day, of 521 Lexington Avenue, Merchantville.
Corporal William T. Eastlack, of 142 I Street, Carney’s Point.
Private Clarence T. Jaggers, of Columbia Road and St. James Walk, National Park.
Sergeant Carl E. Johanson, of 5019 Jefferson Avenue, Pennsauken.
Corporal Steven V. Koscianski, of 966 Bulson Street, Camden.
Private First Class William R. McKeon, of Pine Avenue, Blackwood.
Sergeant Andrew W. Olsen, of Dorothy.
Corporal Aldo Steffanice, of 74 Norman Avenue, Pennsgrove.
Private First Class John A. Landicina, of 402 Southeast Avenue, Vineland.
Michael Carr, of 1059 Everett street, Camden.
Captain Carlton P. Hogan, of 207 East Union Street, Burlington.
Corporal Millard E. Buckingham, of 38 Grant Street, Deepwater.
Missing:
Lt. Robert Probasco, of Shiloh.
Lt. John Ruggiero, of Bridgeboro Road, Beverly.
3 On Troopship Lost
Ballerino, Koscianski, and Carr are believed to have met their fates on the same transport. War Department telegrams to families of all three men reveal that each was a passenger on a troopship that was lost due to enemy action in the Mediterranean on Nov. 27, 1943. All have been awarded Purple Hearts.
This was the closest that the general public got to the truth of the matter. As a matter of fact, 12 of the fifteen men listed above were on that transport, the HMTS Rohna. Five other Rohna victims were also on the War Department casualty lists for that day.
The following reported as dead in today’s official casualty list were previously reported as missing: Sergeant Day, Private Jaggers, Corporal Koscianski, Private McKeon, and Private Steffanice.
Also listed as dead in today’s official casualty list but previously reported in these columns are: Private Michael Yachus, 679 Ferry Avenue, Camden; Joseph H. Johnson, 1273 South Merrimac Road, Camden; Private Harry V. Taylor, 3 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield; Private Merl H. Reagle, Maple Avenue, Lindenwold; Private Jacob K. Jenkins, Marne Highway, Mt. Holly, formerly of Pennsauken; Private Harry E. Harker, 6 Beach Avenue Blackwood; PFC Jack S. Dubois, Church Street, Williamstown, and Charles R. Stewart Jr., 319 Linden Street, Camden.