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Russell Homer Johnson papers, 1943-1951, Date acquired: 12/08/2008, bulk 1944

 

Summary

Creator:
Johnson, Russell Homer
Extent:
2.5 Linear Feet 1 record storage, 1 half box, 1 flat box
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Russell Homer Johnson papers, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_08_0184.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection relates to Russell Homer Johnson who served as Operations Officer with 1st Battalion, 242nd Infantry Regiment of the 42nd "Rainbow" Infantry Division during and after World War II and was discharged with the rank of Major. This collection contains various ephemera containing German money, "Rainbow Division" unit patch, memorabilia, a sketch of Russell, Western Union telegram, and official letters, family correspondence, military documents, photocopies of a scrapbook, and original photographs. Photographs include two of Johnson with Medal of Honor recipient Vito R. Bertoldo, scenes from the aftermath of the Battle of Hatten France, and the occupation of Austria.

Biographical / historical:

Russell Homer Johnson served with the 242nd Infantry Regiment of the 42nd "Rainbow" Infantry Division, U.S. Army, during WWII. Born January 10, 1913, in Centuria, WI, Johnson completed high school in St. Paul, MN and attended night school at the University of Minnesota, for one year in 1939, where he studied Public Speaking. At the same time, he worked as a credit analyst and loan officer at the First National Bank of St. Paul, MN from 1929 until 1942.

Johnson enlisted in the U.S. Army October 19, 1942, at Ft. Snelling, MN. From November 2, 1942, until January 30, 1943, Johnson trained in the use of heavy weaponry at Camp Robert, CA. He trained at Ft. Benning, GA as a non-commissioned officer from March 3, 1943, until June 11, 1943, when he entered the OCS program and received a communications certification. November 25, 1944, he was deployed to the Rhineland in the European Theater of Operations. Arriving December 8, 1944, with the 242nd Infantry Regiment, he participated in the Battle of the Bulge near the town of Hatten, France. His involvement in combat operations ended May 8, 1945, V-E Day.  On November 10, 1945, Johnson was dispatched to Vienna, Austria from Salzburg. On January 10, 1946, Johnson left the European Theater of Operations for the U.S., arriving January 20, 1946, and was stationed with the Headquarters Company, 334 Infantry Regiment of the 84th Infantry Division at Camp McCoy, WI. He entered terminal leave from the military on January 26, 1946, and was discharged March 24, 1946, at the rank of Captain with a specialty as an Operations and Training Officer.

On December 6, 1949, Johnson joined the Minnesota National Guard as a Major with the HQ Special Troops 47th Infantry Division at the Armory, St. Paul, MN. He was discharged July 30, 1951, at the rank of Major. While with the National Guard, Johnson served on Military Escort to the Uruguay commercial attache in October of 1948. At the end of his military service, Johnson was decorated with the Silver Star, a Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement in ground operations, a Presidential Unit Citation, an EAME Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, the American Theatre Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal. Johnson passed away on July 4, 2008, in Tallahassee, FL.

Acquisition information:

Russell Homer Johnson

donation

Custodial history:

Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.

Arrangement:

Creator

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open to all researchers.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Russell Homer Johnson papers, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. http://purl.fcla.edu/fsu/WWII_08_0184.

Location of this collection:
116 Honors Way
Tallahassee
FL
32306-2047
USA