kcmo Posted November 6, 2017 Share #1 Posted November 6, 2017 All, Wanted to share the story of CQM Stuart “Sunny” E. Johnson Jr. who lost his life onboard the USS Bonefish (SS-223) which was presumed to be lost on 19 June 1945 from a Japanese anti-submarine attack. CQM Johnson enlisted October 14, 1940 and was first assigned to the USS West Virginia. Stuart had attended the University of Arkansas for a year prior to his enlistment in 1940 which it appears prompted his father, a newspaper man and military chaplain to petition a senator about his son’s admission to the Naval Academy. It appears Pearl Harbor changed his plans as his date for taking the entrance exam was in April 1942. On December 7th 1941, then S1C Johnson would be at Pearl Harbor on the USS West Virginia during the attack. His parents were mistakenly notified by telegram that he was killed in action. On December 8th he would be transferred to the USS Salt Lake City. He would also serve on the USS Orion prior to getting assigned to the USS Bonefish on March 30, 1944 joining the submarine for its 4th combat patrol. The Bonefish sank 31 vessels for a total tonnage of 158,500 and damaged 7 more during the war. This was the second to last US submarine lost during WWII. CQM Johnson would be posthumously earn the Purple Heart and Silver Star. The All Hands magazine in 1946 lists his Silver Star being awarded. Pictured with the Purple Heart and Silver Star is CQM Johnson’s brothers Navy Good Conduct Medal privately engraved and dated 1953. RIP CQM Johnson and the over 3000 Sailors who perished in the silent service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted November 6, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted November 6, 2017 Back of PH and SS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted November 6, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted November 6, 2017 Back of medal and telegram no family wants to receive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted November 6, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted November 6, 2017 Second telegram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted November 6, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted November 6, 2017 Transfer on DEC 8th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete-o MSU Posted November 6, 2017 Share #6 Posted November 6, 2017 Very nice thanks for posting this rare group! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zsmith Posted November 6, 2017 Share #7 Posted November 6, 2017 I love these submarine groupings and this one is incredible. RIP Chief. Thanks for sharing this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted November 7, 2017 Share #8 Posted November 7, 2017 Congratulations to a deserved Caretaker..."Fair winds and following seas"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted November 7, 2017 Share #9 Posted November 7, 2017 R.I.P. Chief ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted November 7, 2017 Share #10 Posted November 7, 2017 Thanks for posting this and keeping the memory of CQM Johnson alive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted November 7, 2017 Author Share #11 Posted November 7, 2017 Newspaper article from DEC 7th and All Hands( and close up) with SS award from 1946. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted November 7, 2017 Share #12 Posted November 7, 2017 A rare and historic group ...thank you for sharing his story! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted November 7, 2017 Share #13 Posted November 7, 2017 An amazing group! -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary B Posted November 7, 2017 Share #14 Posted November 7, 2017 As a collector of Submarine PHs, I am pleased to see this one posted. You never cease to amaze with your amazing medal postings. Thanks for posting and keeping his memory alive! Gary B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxcompany1944 Posted December 28, 2017 Share #15 Posted December 28, 2017 Beautiful ☺️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerialbridge Posted December 28, 2017 Share #16 Posted December 28, 2017 Exceptional pair of medals, congratulations and thanks for sharing them. No copy of the Silver Star citation in his OPF, I guess. That seems to be (amazingly) not that uncommon an occurrence for Navy valor awards during WW2 and before. For example, in the OPF for a 37-year Navy captain, as thick as a vintage Brooklyn phone directory, there was no copy of the citation for his WWI NC earned commanding a ship, just the transmittal for the medal. And I'm aware of other Navy and Marine WW2 Silver Stars with no citations in the OPFs. If anyone has any suggestions on where a researcher might look, other than the OPF to find a WW2 Navy valor citation such as this one, others might find it useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted December 28, 2017 Author Share #17 Posted December 28, 2017 Aerialbridge, This is all I have found in reference to his Silver Star Citation online. I would "assume" the actual citation had more detail. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerialbridge Posted December 28, 2017 Share #18 Posted December 28, 2017 kcmo, I share your frustration on an elusive navy Silver Star citation-- nothing in the OPF and the only documentation in a 1948 All Hands that Home of Heroes probably picked up on for their database. I'm pretty sure that if we can ever find the citations, they will contain some intense details about how they were earned. Good luck on finding the citation. Did you find any evidence that Johnson was awarded a posthumous Good Conduct in his file? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted December 29, 2017 Author Share #19 Posted December 29, 2017 No evidence in the file for any Good Conduct medals just some citations from previous ships and for a submarine patrol badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted December 30, 2017 Share #20 Posted December 30, 2017 Wonderful grouping, thanks for sharing. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParanormalTrooper Posted February 6, 2018 Share #21 Posted February 6, 2018 RIP Chief, beautiful group! Oddly enough, I have a shipmates uniform who also received the silver star aboard the Bonefish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted February 10, 2018 Author Share #22 Posted February 10, 2018 The only other Silver Star award winners I found online were 3 of the officers onboard. If the uniform was for an enlisted sailor I couldn't locate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FFZFlyer Posted February 10, 2018 Share #23 Posted February 10, 2018 Aerialbridge, This is all I have found in reference to his Silver Star Citation online. I would "assume" the actual citation had more detail. 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. I find this very interesting. The complete lack of detail makes one wonder when exactly the paperwork for this award was submitted. Earlier posts indicate Johnson joined the Bonefish in time for its 4th war patrol. The Bonefish was lost on her 8th patrol. On the 4th through 7th patrols this sub saw considerable action. I'm wondering if this wasn't a "boilerplate" citation to accompany an award that was part of a package of awards granted to sub crew members for successful patrols. It is my understanding that sub commanders were granted awards of the NC and SS based on the success of a patrol, to include tonnage and actual number of enemy ships sunk. Perhaps if the skipper got a NC for one or more of these patrols word also came down to make sure some "deserving" crew members were granted lower awards so the EM didn't feel left out. Knowing when the paperwork was submitted would provide a major clue as to what(which) patrols the award covered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted February 11, 2018 Author Share #24 Posted February 11, 2018 No other documents I have give any indication of the award. The All Hands is dated September 1946, He was not "officially" declared KIA until a year after the suspected lost date so that would be 15 July 1946. Unlike some of the other awards listed in the magazine does not include "posthumously" in his write-up. The subs Navy Unit Citation included its 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th so possibly could been submitted following the award. I don't have anything about the award in all my documents so might never know for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParanormalTrooper Posted February 11, 2018 Share #25 Posted February 11, 2018 The only other Silver Star award winners I found online were 3 of the officers onboard. If the uniform was for an enlisted sailor I couldn't locate it. Sorry, I should've mentioned it was an Officers (Lt John D Salisbury). I have a copy of Salisburys citation and it is equally bare, but someone wrote the date 25 April 1945 on it, if that helps at all. Anyways I hope you find more on this CQM! Once agin, outstanding group! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now