George "G" Johnson

Funeral services for Mr. George "G" Johnson, 85 ,of Harrisonburg, LA will be held at Meyers Bend Pentecostal Church on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 2:00 PM with Bro. Mike Allen, Bro Bill Cotten and Bro Lynell Hatten officiating. Interment will follow at Heard Cemetery, Manifest, La, under the direction of Young's Funeral Home in Jonesville. Mr. Johnson was born March 14, 1922 in Harrisonburg, LA.George Johnson, a resident of Catahoula Parish and a World War II veteran, died Monday in his Harrisonburg home. Johnson, like so many other Catahoula Parish residents in the 1940s, enlisted in the Army in 1941 and found himself in the crux of World War II's European Theater. Johnson fought in numerous battles that enabled the Allied Powers to win vital ground and ultimately claim victory. In 1942, Johnson completed basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., and reported to the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion, an element of the 101st Division, known as the Screaming Eagles. Historians largely credit the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion for its efforts in the assault and liberation of Holland, its efforts in Bastonge and for its accomplishments in Normandy. Johnson fought in Holland and later earned a Purple Heart in the Battle of the Bulge. He credited California native Oscar Mendoza (deceased), his "foxhole buddy," for saving his life in a battle that cost U.S. forces thousands of lives. With little food and supplies during the invasion of Holland, Johnson and Mendoza found an orchard and survived by eating apples for a week. After 21 years of service, Johnson retired from the U.S. Army and later served in the CIA. While serving overseas, Johnson would often communicate with "the love of his life" via Western Union telegrams. That lady, Inez "Daisy" Johnson, would later become his wife over four decades later on Sept. 10, 1988. One telegram, which Johnson vaguely states he had survived initial European invasions, was later framed and still hangs on a wall in her Harrisonburg home. Johnson embodied many of the noble characteristics of his generation, which is now referred to by many as the "Greatest Generation." Known better to family and friends as "G," Johnson was an excellent cook, having developed his culinary skills while in Europe. Johnson was also known for his green thumb and grew rhododendrons, roses and dahlias. His numerous nieces and nephews thought of him more as a grandfather and always called on him to help with school projects that involved interviewing a World War II veteran. In the 1990s, he and Inez Johnson reestablished their Catahoula Parish roots and began to travel extensively. The couple journeyed every five years to Holland, Germany and Austria, where Johnson reunited with the men he served with in World War II. The last reunion the couple attended was on Sept. 10, 2007 - their 19th wedding anniversary. Johnson often commented on how appreciative the residents of Holland are today for the efforts of U.S. forces in the liberation of their country. He was preceded in Death by: Father-Fount Oliver Johnson Mother-Mattie Davis Johnson Brother-Claude R. Johnson Brother-Fount Oliver Johnson, Jr. Brother-Edward Johnson Brother-James Harold Johnson Sister-Marie Kendrick Sister-Helen Anderson Survivors include: Wife-Inez Meyers Johnson of Harrisonburg, La. Brother-Charles Theo Johnson and Eva Nell Temple of Monterey, La. Sister-Mabel and her husband Charles Smith of Ball, La. Sister-Charlotte and her husband Richard McCarty of Montgomery, Texas numerous nieces ,nephews and a host of friends Special Cousin- Clyde Smith of Jackson, Ms The Pallbearers will be Barry Smith, Michael McBride, Glen Smith, Phil Johnson, Lee Smith ,Kyle Mogle, Steve Mogle, Larry Anderson and Sean McBride The Honorary Pallbearer will be Eric McCarty The family will receive friends at Meyers Bend Pentecostal Church from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM Tuesday, February 12, 2008 and from 11:00 AM til time of service on Wednesday, February 13,2008

George "G" Johnson

March 14, 1922 - February 11, 2008