Ernest Robert Johnson was the son of William Walter Johnson and Margaret Jane Polk of San Augustine and later Sabine county TX. Margaret Jane Polk was the daughter of Lucius B. Polk and Margaret "Maggie" Miller Polk of San Augustine, TX.
The Polk family seemed related to almost everyone who was anyone in deep east Texas politics, as well as to national figures like President James K. Polk. Ernest is a "second cousin, 3rd generation", removed from President James K. Polk ancestry line.

Ernest was at the Pitchfork Ranch in Spur, TX, when he was inducted on Oct 10, 1917. His WWI service record shows he was with the 165th Depot Brigade ( a training unit) until November 24, 1917. THE 90th Division officially came into being at Camp Travis, Texas, on August 25, 1917, when Major-General Henry T. Allen assumed command of the "90th Division and 165th Depot Brigade at Camp Travis. The 90th Division, largely composed of draftees from Texas and Oklahoma, was at least as good as the 36th Division (from the same area), but never enjoyed the prestige of the more famous Arrowheads. Ernest was transferred to a QuarterMaster Unit ( not specified) until January 22, 1918. He was then transferred to the Service Park unit of the 360th Motor Transport Corps. It is with this unit that he was deployed overseas during World War I. The Service Park unit was the motorized version of the Pack Train units ( mules). It was a service unit which did repairs, moved men, supplies, equipment to the front or around the wherever needed but the unit used motor transport such as "Liberty Trucks" instead of horse or mule drawn equipment. The 360th Motor Transport Corps was the part of the 360th Infantry, which is part of the 90th Infantry Division. Service Park Units will be assigned, as required, to combatant organizations,stations and service of supply as required, and will be attached at the rate of three service park units for each division. During his time in Europe(France & Germany)he participated in three major offensives; St. Mihiel, Mesue-Argonne , and Aisne-Marne offensive. The Mesue-Argonne was the worst battle of World War I where over 26,000 lost their live. He served with the American Expeditionary Forces overseas from Mar 28,1918 to Aug 3, 1919. His service record noted that he was promoted to Sgt. on Feb. 24, 1919. Ernest departed France on July 1919 on the transport ship named the USS Arizonan(ID#4542-A).He was discharged on Aug 16, 1919 at Camp Pike, Arkansas.

Ernest R Johnson