WWII Veteran Robert Johnson Remembers His Time of Service

It was an absolute pleasure learning a little about World War II Veteran Robert Johnson and a lot about Jasper County history on a rainy Juneteenth evening sitting on his front porch.

Mr. Johnson, age 97, is the county’s oldest living WWII veteran. He joined the United States Army Air Force, which was one unit back then, in 1944 and served until 1946.

“I joined the service because it was either the service or jail,” Mr. Johnson said.

The veteran is a treasure chest of gold nuggets of knowledge. The more he spoke, the more I learned and not just about him but life in general.

His family has a rich history of military service that began with him and his two brothers. He had a brother that also served in WWII. That brother left the war “shell shocked” and ended up in a Veterans Adminstration (VA) Hospital, he noted. Mr. Johnson also had a brother to serve in the Korean War.

The Johnson lineage of service extends to his descendants. He has one grandson retired from the Air Force, Marcus Davis. He has one grandson retired from the Army, Kemon Smith. He has one grandson currently serving in the Army National Guard, Patrick Dennis. And he has two grandsons serving in the Army now, Canius Dennis and Keyshawn Smith.

Veteran Johnson began his service at Fort Benning in Columbus, where he served as a mail carrier. After several months in Georgia it was onto Mississippi and eventually San Bernandino, Calif. As his location changed so did many of his responsibilities.

“During the war, we became duty soldiers who went wherever they were needed.”

While stationed in California, he recalls guarding the airplanes after they came in and manning the runways.

The veteran noted how race relations played a big part during his service years which came after his days as a water boy in the cotton fields of Jasper County. The military required soldiers then to participate in race relation classes which promoted separate but equal. However, he said trips home while on furlough felt different as soldiers of color always had to sit in the back of the bus.

With that in mind, Mr. Johnson was tickled pink to be honored during the the local Juneteenth celebration last week and with Memorial Day honors by the American Legion Post #110. He was very proud to have a new WWII veterans hat and t-shirt to sport around. He was also proud to be a recipient of a “Quilt of Valor” from the Oconee Quilt Guild.

“I’m 97 now, in 36 months I will be 100 years old. I have seen a lot in my years and I’m looking forward to seeing more.