[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7194]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


    HONORING WALTER ROGER JOHNSON, SR. FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR NATION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 18, 2015

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, on May 8, 2015, Americans celebrated the 
70th anniversary of V-E Day, the day that the United States and its 
allies accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany--and 
celebrated the end of World War II (WWII) in Europe. I rise today to 
ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring and celebrating 
the life of Walter Roger Johnson, Sr., an American hero, for his 
significant accomplishments and service to the United States during 
WWII. Mr. Johnson not only served his country as a ``Buffalo Soldier'' 
in both the U.S. 10th and 28th Horse Cavalry Regiments, he also served 
as a soldier on the ``Red Ball Express'' in the 3825th Quartermaster 
Truck Company while overseas.
  Walter Roger Johnson, Sr., a native Washingtonian, was fascinated by 
the colored soldiers he saw riding horseback trot past his home, on 
D.C.'s then dirt roads. His admiration of the soldiers prompted him to 
run away and join the Cavalry, but at age 15 he was sent home. In 
February 1943, Mr. Johnson enlisted in the army at Ft. Myer, Virginia. 
He served in the 10th Horse Cavalry Regiment and finally in the 28th 
Horse Cavalry at Camp Lockett, CA, the U.S.'s final Horse Cavalry 
Regiment. The 28th served double duty as the southern defense for the 
Western Defense Command. It's there that he earned the rankings of a 
rifle ``sharpshooter'' and an ``expert'' with a .45 pistol. Mr. Johnson 
would jokingly say, ``I hit hard, shoot straight, and cut deep!''
  In March 1944, the 28th was shipped to North Africa, inactivated, and 
converted into a Combat Service Support Troop. Mr. Johnson was assigned 
to the 3825th Quartermaster Truck Company, which later became a part of 
WWII's most massive logistics operation, the ``Red Ball Express,'' an 
operation primarily manned by colored soldiers. Mr. Johnson served as a 
``Red Ball Express'' truck driver--in which he, along with his unit, 
hauled supplies, 24/7, to the First and Third Armies so that the Army 
could continue their advancement across France.
  A proud descendant of Native Americans and African Africans, Mr. 
Johnson never faltered in telling his proud story of being an American 
soldier, American champion, and champion of liberty, equality, and 
dignity. Like millions of nameless, faceless colored men, Mr. Johnson 
was an American war hero who helped win wars for this great country, 
but was unable to win the fight for freedom right here at home.
  Mr. Johnson was decorated with the European-African-Middle Eastern 
Campaign Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, 
and the Lapel Button. He was honorably discharged in November of 1945 
at Camp Campbell, Kentucky.
  In the summer of 2014, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of D-Day, 
June 6, 1944, Mr. Johnson's story was published in the following three 
publications, ``The Rocket,'' ``Dispatches,'' and ``Aspirations'' under 
the title ``World War II Soldier Remembered: From Buffalo Soldier to 
Red Ball Express Soldier.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House join me in honoring Walter Roger 
Johnson, Sr., for his service to our Nation.

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