Stuart Johnson – Paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom

Stuart Johnson was born in Cleveland, Ohio on April 29, 1922. From the 1930 U.S. Census, we learn that his father, also Stuart, 39, worked as a printer at a print shop. His mother, Adah, 35, had four children living at home at this time; Stuart, 8, Eugene, 5, Martha, 3 and Douglas, a one-year-old. They all lived in Oneida, Delaware County, Iowa.

Ten years later, the family of four had moved to 201 South Emily Street in Picher, Ottawa County, Oklahoma. Stuart, at 17 years old, had completed four years of high school. This information was recorded in the 1940 U.S. Census

Stuart joined the Navy on October 14, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois. After basic training, Johnson received training on navigation and how to supply Navy ships. His first assignment was aboard the huge battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48) on December 31, 1940. The ship was continually practicing war exercises since war in Europe had begun in 1939. On December 7, 1941, the battleship moored along side the USS Tennessee. Both were sunk by enemy torpedoes. Johnson must have participated in the battle but no details could be found. The West Virginia was refloated and repaired, but not returned to service until 1944.

The very next day, December 8, 1941, Johnson joined the crew of the attack cruiser USS Salt Lake City (CA-25). The ship was not at Pearl Harbor since she was part of the task force cruising with the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. Stuart saw lots of action aboard the ship, hunting submarines, participating in the battle of Midway, and part of Task Force 16 that sent planes to Tokyo as part of Doolittle’s raid.

Johnson next volunteered for the submarine service. He received training in the basics of living in and working as part of the submarine crew in New London, Connecticut. From there he was sent to further training about navigation and supplying stores for underwater warfare. He attained the rating of Chief Quartermaster with a Navy Service Number of 346 85 91.

After this training was completed, Johnson mustered aboard the submarine tender USS Orion (AS-18). The USS Orion (AS–18) was a Fulton-class submarine tender of the United States Navy. She was laid down 31 July 1941 at the Moore Dry Dock Company, Oakland, California; launched 24 June 1942. Following shakedown off southern California, Orion got underway for Pearl Harbor on 23 November 1943. Arriving there on the 28th, she received her first submarine, Gar (SS-206) alongside for repairs two days later. On 10 December she steamed for Australia, arriving at Fremantle 5 January 1944 to begin her mission of maintaining the material readiness of, and an adequate stock of supplies for, submarines operating in the southwest Pacific.

Johnson then joined the crew of the ill-fated submarine USS Bonefish (SS-223) on March 31, 1944. The following information was Compiled by Stuart W. Wittmer and Charles R. Hinman, with editorial notes by Stuart H. Downie, originally from: U.S. Submarine Losses World War II, NAVPERS 15,784, 1949 ISSUE ….

In company with TUNNY and SKATE, BONEFISH (SS-223), commanded by CDR L. L. Edge, departed Guam on 28 May 1945 to conduct her eighth war patrol. This coordinated attack group under Commander G. E. Pierce in TUNNY, which was one of three groups then penetrating the Japan Sea, was ordered to transit Tsushima Strait on 5 June 1945 and to conduct offensive patrol in the Sea of Japan off the west coast of Honshu. This area was further subdivided, with BONEFISH assigned to patrol the northern portion.

BONEFISH successfully transited Tsushima Strait, and made rendezvous with TUNNY on 16 June 1945, in position 36° 40'N, 135° 24'E. Commander Edge reported be had sunk one large transport and one medium freighter to date. On the morning of 18 June, TUNNY and BONEFISH rendezvoused in the vicinity of 38° 15'N, 136° 24'E. [Editor's Note: Position corrected from 38° 15'N, 138° 24'E.] BONEFISH asked permission to conduct a submerged daylight patrol in Toyama Wan, in the mid part of western Honshu, and having received it, departed for Suzu Misaki. She was never seen or heard from again.

BONEFISH, in accordance with the operation order, was to rendezvous with the other eight submarines of the three groups, at 46° 50'N, 140° 00'E at sunset on 23 June 1945, in preparation for the transit on 24 June of La Perouse Strait. BONEFISH did not make this rendezvous, and after the other eight vessels had successfully transited La Perouse Strait, TUNNY on 25 and 26 June waited off the entrance to the strait and unsuccessfully tried to contact BONEFISH.

Provision was made in the operation order governing this patrol group for submarines in case of necessity to proceed to Russian waters to claim a 24 hour haven, or to submit to internment in extreme need, or for them to make their exit from the Japan Sea prior to or after 24 June. When all of these possibilities had been examined, and she had not been seen or heard from by 30 July 1945, BONEFISH was reported as presumed lost.

Japanese records of anti-submarine attacks mention an attack made on 19 June 1945 [Editor's Note: Date corrected from 18 June 1945], at 37°18'N, 137° 25'E in Toyama Wan. A great many depth charges were dropped, and wood chips and oil were observed. This undoubtedly was the attack which sank BONEFISH.

In total, this vessel sank 31 enemy vessels, for a total tonnage of 158,500, and damaged 7, for 42,000 tons. She began her career as an active member of the Submarine Force with a patrol in the South China Sea in September and October 1943. She sank three freighters, two transports, a tanker and a schooner, and damaged a fourth freighter. On her second war patrol, conducted in the Celebes Sea and near Borneo, BONEFISH sank two freighters and an escort vessel, and damaged a minelayer. Again, in the South China Sea on her third patrol, BONEFISH sank a very large tanker, a medium freighter and a schooner, and damaged a second large tanker. This ship went to the Celebes and Sulu Seas for her fourth patrol and sank two freighters, a transport and a tanker, while she damaged a sub chaser. Post war information also reveals that on 14 May 1944, while firing at the large tanker, which she sank, BONEFISH hit and sank the Japanese destroyer INAZUMI.

This vessel's fifth patrol was in the same area as her fourth, and she sank two small freighters, a large tanker and five miscellaneous small craft, while she damaged a second tanker. BONEFISH covered a South China Sea area in her sixth patrol, and sank two large tankers and a freighter during September and October 1944. She also damaged two medium freighters. Then, after a thorough overhaul and the installation of much new equipment in San Francisco, BONEFISH made her seventh patrol in the East China Sea. She had only one attack opportunity and did no damage. However, she took two Japanese prisoners from a downed enemy plane, and performed reconnaissance work on the southern end of Korea. BONEFISH was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for the period of her first and third through sixth patrols.

Tragically, Stuart Johnson was one of those sailors killed during the sinking of the Bonefish. His body was never recovered. Petty Officer Johnson’s name is carved in the Tablets of the Missing in Honolulu, Hawaii. This memorial is also known as the punch bowl.

In addition, Johnson’s family place a memorial stone at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California. The inscription reads, “CENOTAPH OF STUART EDWIN JOHNSON , JR. , ‘SUNNY’, 1922-1945, CHIEF QUARTERMASTER, U.S.N. , U.S.S. BONEFISH – SEA OF JAPAN.”

Posthumously, Johnson was awarded a prestigious Silver Star and a Purple Heart.

(From the Military Times: https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/312615)

SILVER STAR: Stuart Edwin Johnson Jr.

HOME OF RECORD: Fisher, Illinois

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING World War II Service: Navy

Division: U.S.S. Bonefish (SS-223)

GENERAL ORDERS: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 354 (September 1946)

CITATION:

SYNOPSIS: Chief Quartermaster Stuart E. Johnson, Jr., United States Navy, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action while serving aboard the U.S.S. BONEFISH (SS-223) during war patrols in enemy-controlled waters during World War II. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.