[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2394-E2395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO RAYMOND JOHNSON OF FORT WALTON BEACH

                                 ______


                          HON. JOE SCARBOROUGH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 18, 1995

  Mr. SCARBOROUGH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell this Chamber a 
story of remarkable heroism, a story I recently heard about a World War 
II veteran who resided in my district and who, in a time of crisis in 
our Nation's history rose to the defense of his country. I relay this 
story, because it lets us know that, at a time when cynicism and 
pessimism seem pervasive, we need to be reminded that we are a nation 
of heroes and that we can rise to meet the challenges before us. Mr. 
Raymond Johnson was just a hero, and in the best tradition of the 
American spirit he rose to the challenges before him for no other 
reason than that he loved his country.
  Raymond Johnson was like any other young American boy growing up 
before World War II. He enjoyed the innocence of playing baseball, 
climbing trees, fishing, and the other simplicities of a young life. 
But when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, bringing the United States into 
World War II, Raymond Johnson did his duty and went off to serve his 
country as an infantryman in the U.S. Army. In April 1942, Raymond and 
hundreds of other young men traveled to Inniskillan, Northern Ireland, 
for specialized training as an Army scout. After further training in 
Inverary, Scotland, Raymond and his comrades found themselves in North 
Africa with the 168th Regiment of the 34th Infantry Division. Their 
enemy--Field Marshall Rommel's vaunted Afrika Korps.
  Soon enough, the 34th Infantry Division received their baptism of 
fire during the Allied invasion of North Africa on November 17, 1942. 
Raymond served gallantly in battle during two major campaigns in 
Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. After being bombarded both day and night 
by German artillery fire for over 1 month, the 34th Infantry found 
themselves divided and in disarray. One morning, just before dawn, 
Raymond and his comrades found themselves encircled by German tanks and 
infantry. Those American soldiers who were not machine gunned 
immediately found their positions overrun and themselves taken 
prisoner. That morning marked what would become 2\1/2\ years of hell 
for Raymond Johnson in Nazi prisoner of war camps in Tunisia, Sicily, 
Italy, and ultimately the heart of the German interior.

  Meanwhile, Raymond's family had no word of their son's fate. Reported 
missing, probably killed in action, the family feared for the worst. 
Then, a Canadian ham radio operator monitoring Vatican City Radio 
recorded the names of American prisoners of war that a Vatican City 
envoy had visited in a Nazi-controlled camp near Mount Vesuvius. 
Hearing the name Raymond Johnson and his home town broadcast over the 
radio, the ham radio operator contacted the Johnson family, giving them 
the first word that their son was alive. Despite his capture, the 
Johnson family, steadfast in their Roman Catholic faith, thanked God 
that their son was alive and that a priest had visited the men, giving 
them the sacrament of communion. Faith in God and confidence in their 
country were all that the Johnson family had to sustain them for some 
time to come.
  Department of State Cables 446, 464, 579, and 649 mentioned Raymond 
Johnson as being sighted in Nazi POW Camps 7A and 3B near Furstonberg 
along with other prisoners, but the family was told nothing more than 
that their Raymond was a prisoner of war and that his fate was 
uncertain. Forced to labor on German public works projects and later on 
German farms, Raymond, like his fellow 

[[Page E2395]]
POW's, became emaciated from extreme hunger and his health declined. 
Dysentery, infections, work injuries, and TB ravaged the men held by 
the Nazis in the dreaded stalags and Raymond Johnson was not immune. By 
the spring of 1945, near death, weighing only 98 pounds, suffering from 
dysentery and having lost all of his teeth because of malnutrition, 
Raymond and most of his comrades had survived almost 2\1/2\ years as 
prisoners of war, subjected to constant hardship and Gestapo 
interrogation. Prisoners were dying at the rate of three or four dead a 
day. Still, secure in his faith in both God and country, Raymond did 
not give up hope that he would be liberated and see his home and family 
again. Raymond's prayers would not go unanswered. As the Irish proverb 
goes, ``God is just but He takes His time.''
  Almost as suddenly as he became a prisoner of war, events transpired 
that would change Raymond's life for the better. On Friday, April 13, 
1945, Raymond's prayers were answered. The men of Nazi Stalag 3B heard 
thunder in the distance. In a state of panic, German guards began 
shooting some prisoners and locked the rest in their barracks as the 
thunder loomed nearer. That thunder soon was recognized as artillery 
fire. The artillery fire became the sounds of tanks in battle. The 
sounds of tank fire transformed into the sound of tank treads. The tank 
treads became so loud that the POW's huddled on the floor together 
fearing that the Germans would make good on their threat to kill them 
before they could be liberated. The commotion outside the barracks was 
so loud that many of the men later reported being almost deafened until 
the next sound that they heard was the barracks doors being thrown open 
and an American GI yelling, ``You're safe now, boys. We've come to take 
you home!'' A day that is feared by the superstitious of the world, 
Friday the 13th, thereafter became Raymond's special day for the rest 
of his life.
  Although liberated, Raymond's life still weighed in the balance. At 
the fittingly named Camp Lucky, Raymond almost died from his state of 
malnutrition several times. After 3 harrowing weeks, medics finally 
approved Raymond to be placed aboard a hospital ship heading for 
America. Enroute, men continued to die and were buried at sea. 
Contemplating the hardships he had endured, Raymond feared that it 
would be both senseless and ironic if he should die at sea before 
seeing his family again. Raymond continued to pray that God would spare 
his life. Once again Raymond's prayers were answered.
  This story would end here and would not be of note had it not been 
for one simple thing. A nation anxious to return to normal, eager to 
discharge veterans as quickly as they could be brought back home from 
the war in Europe and the Pacific, became a nation too busy to honor 
its heroes. Raymond Johnson never received the recognition that he 
deserved for serving his country with distinction and honor in both its 
saddest and finest moments.
  Raymond Johnson eventually regained much of his health. However, 
doctors told him that he would never be the same after having suffered 
the fate of Nazi prison camps. Humbly, Raymond went on with his life, 
devout in his faith, and proud of his service to his country. Like most 
veterans, Raymond did not complain much. They were just thankful to be 
home with their families. In fact, Raymond Johnson lead a modest but 
happy life, barely speaking of his experiences in the Nazi stalags. Few 
people could have guessed what the war had been like for Raymond.
  Unfortunately, Raymond left this life on October 20, 1981, after 
suffering from cancer. Today, Raymond Johnson is survived by his widow, 
Mildred Johnson of Fort Walton Beach, FL, who attends St. Mary's 
Catholic Church regularly and is active in the Legion of Mary. Raymond 
was fortunate to have seven children, four sons, Robert, a teacher in 
Fort Walton Beach, Dennis a postal worker, a Roman Catholic Priest, 
Kevin, and Thomas who works for the State of Florida, and three 
daughters, Sandra, Katherine, and Mary, as well as 10 grandchildren, 
including a namesake, Raymond. While it may be too late to honor 
Raymond Johnson personally, this Christmas season I am pleased to be 
able to present to his family the medals and awards that this hero has 
been owed for over 50 years--the Bronze Star Medal, the Prisoner of War 
Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the coveted Combat 
Infantryman's Badge. These decorations pale in comparison to the gift 
that Raymond gave his country but they are all that a humble nation can 
give to pay tribute to one of its heroes. I am pleased to know that the 
First Congressional District of Florida can boast of the merits of an 
American the likes of Raymond Johnson and his fine family. Mr. Speaker, 
we owe this man, and all of our Nation's veterans our most sincere 
thanks and gratitude.

                          ____________________