In Recognition of Richard D. Johnson, Marine 1948-1952
Staff Sergeant Richard Johnson is what’s called a Hidden Gem in Branson. At 93 years old he had begun to share his Military Career with the Library of Congress, and local colleagues. College of the Ozarks was asked to record a video of Richards and his account of one particular event that took place while in the military, being a part of the ‘Frozen Chosin’. Since Mr. Johnson was on Hospice, the Hospice Chaplin Craig Buck was present during the time of the video production. Chaplain Buck, also the Chaplain for the Veterans and Military Coalition of the Ozarks (VMCO), shared Mr. Johnson’s story with VMCO. VMCO has put together a Ceremony of Recognition that took place in his home earlier this year. Several state and local dignitaries, and representatives, presented Mr. Johnson with Certificates of Achievement. Missouri Congressman Billy Long, US Senator Josh Hawley, Missouri State Senate Mike Moon, Missouri State Representative Brian Seitz, and the Mayor of Branson Larry Milton, honored him at this time.
Richard D. Johnson, Marine 1948-1952
Rescuing the Frozen Chosen, 1950
Richard Johnson enlisted in the Marine Corp in 1948. After several years of moving around, on July 12, 1950 he was to board the ship USS Pickaway in San Diego, and sail for Japan. This was at a pivotal time in the Korean War. On Aug 2, 1950 all men were unloaded in Pusan, S. Korea. After weeks of fighting, and being constantly on the move, they were at the shoreline of Wonsan. There they received their winter gear: heavy parkas, long johns, boots and sleeping bags: never to realize how important those items would become.
On Oct 26, 1950, they began the move into the mountain area towards the Chosin reservoir. By mid-November they experienced sub-zero temperatures, as low as -36 degrees, and deep snow. On Thanksgiving night, November 23, 1950, they had a good hot meal, the only one received for several weeks. That night the Chinese hit with everything they had. At day break they could see hundreds of casualties, but then heard they were surrounded. They headed south and on Dec. 3, 1950, had reached Hagaru’s airstrip. After the wounded were evacuated, they went another hard 11 miles down the road to Koto-ri. It was there where they joined the first Marine Regiment and learned that they were surrounded. It was here they met Col. Chesty Puller who made the USMC famous quote of “those poor *@#$%, now we can shoot them in all directions!”
Between November 27 and December 13, 1950, 30,000 United Nations Command troops (later nicknamed “The Chosin Few”) under the field command of Major General Oliver P. Smith were encircled and attacked by about 120,000 Chinese troops under the command of Song Shilun, who had been ordered by Mao Zedong to destroy the UN forces. This later would be referred to the battle of the Frozen Chosin’.
After that battle they eventually made it to the ship and boarded on Dec. 17, 1950. The ship was prepared for them as they moved single filed through compartments to get out of the clothes that they had been wearing for over 2 months, Mr. Johnson said “it left a two foot pile of clothes. Later they learned that only 15, out of the original 255 had survived”. After being Honorably Discharged Mr. Johnson was quoted saying “The Marine Corps experience was a difficult 4 years, but I don’t regret the time, overall it turned out for the best.”
Richard D. Johnson Obituary
Richard “Dick” Dean Johnson passed away on February 8th, 2022, in Branson, Missouri, at the age of 93. Richard grew up in Joplin, Missouri, and enlisted with the United States Marine Corp in 1948 and fought in the Chosin Battle of the Korean War in the Winter of 1950. He was one of only 15 survivors in his company of 255 marines, who were cut off by the Chinese Military in the northern region of Korea, near the Chosin reservoir. This epic battle, in which the UN forces totaling 30,000 troops were substantially outnumbered by 120,000 Chinese troops but fought their way south to a secured area for evacuation by sea after surviving 3 grueling weeks in the Mountains of North Korea with temperatures as cold as -38F. Richard was recently acknowledged for his participation in the Korean War Chosin Battle and one of few survivors, by Missouri State and Federal Congressional members with presentations in Branson, Missouri. (See more info on this in the Jan 14, 2022, edition of the Branson Globe newspaper). In addition, the Mayor of Branson, Missouri, proclaimed January 20th as Richard D. Johnson Day to acknowledge Richard’s service and loyalty to our country.
Following his 4 years of service, Richard attended Missouri University, married Jacqueline Ann Scott, and earned a BS in Civil Engineering. Richard and Jacquie moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma, in 1956 where Richard began working for Conoco Inc. Project Development group. Richard took early retirement in 1982 and became an employee of Aramco Oil Company in Daharan, Saudi Arabia working on various Oil/Gas project developments until 1989, when he and Jacquie returned to the U.S. After approximately five-year stint working for Vista Chemicals in Houston, Texas, Richard retired and he and Jacquie lived in Breckenridge, Colorado, Naples, Florida, and Joplin, Missouri, before settling down in Branson, Missouri.
Richard was an avid sports fan and played on the Marine Corp Basketball team in Guam and Semi-Professional Baseball in the early 1950s for the Alba Aces in Joplin, Missouri. He also was actively involved with coaching Little League and Pony League baseball programs in Ponca City in the 1960s.
Richard is survived by his wife, Jacquie; daughter, Jody Godfrey of Branson, Missouri; sons: Douglas Johnson and wife Elizabeth Johnson of Fallbrook, California, Gary Johnson of Palm Springs, California; grandchildren: Eric Bacon of Nashville, Tennessee, Lisa Parkstone of Wilmington, Delaware, Dustin Johnson of Laguna Nigel, California, Stephanie Carlson of Fallbrook, California, and Lauren Johnson of Dana Point, California. In addition, Richard and Jacquie are survived by seven great grandsons: G.J. and Tyler Parkstone, Landon and Carter Bacon, Westley Carlson, Maverick Freeman, and Holden Johnson.
Richard was a member of the Church of Christ in Hollister, Missouri, a humble patriot, loving father and married to Jacquie for 68 wonderful years. Richard’s kind and humble spirit and his dry wit will be greatly missed.