Elden H. Johnson

Who was Elden H. Johnson?

Elden Harvey Johnson was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

Johnson joined the Army from East Weymouth, Massachusetts in April 1943, and by June 3, 1944 was serving as a private in the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. When his unit was ambushed on that day, near Valmontone, Italy, he deliberately drew the hostile German fire onto himself so that his comrades could escape. He succeeded in destroying a German machine gun position before he was killed. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor a year later, on May 16, 1945.

Johnson, aged 23 at his death, was buried in Union Cemetery, Scituate, Massachusetts.