JOHNSON, Cpl. Kenneth L.

JOHNSON, GRELL, RINGIS, LAMBERT, WINTERS, HANSEN, PIERCE, PRAMER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/22/2013 at 10:56:04

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
October 31, 1944, Page 12

CLEAR LAKE BRIEFS

Mrs. Kenneth L. JOHNSON has received word that her husband, who is now in Luxemborg, Germany, has been promoted to the rank of corporal. Cpl. JOHNSON wrote that he is fine.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Thursday, February 01, 1945, Page 12

CPL. K. JOHNSON SUFFERS INJURY

Seriously Wounded On German Front Jan. 17

Clear Lake - Mrs. Kenneth L. JOHNSON, who makes her home with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John GRELL, 710 3rd street, received the following telegram from the war department Thursday morning:

"We regret to inform you that your husband, Cpl. Kenneth L. JOHNSON, was seriously wounded in action in Germany Jan. 17. Mail address follows direct from hospital with details, J.A. ULIO, the adjutant general."

Cpl. JOHNSON entered the service Nov. 13, 1942, and was trained at Little Rock, Ark., and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., before going on maneuvers in Arizona. He was then sent to Camp Forest, Tenn., and came home on furlough before going overseas in the fall of 1943. He landed in Ireland and went thence to England, Belium and Germany. He was with a combat battaion of engineers.

Cpl. JOHNSON is a son of Mr. and Mrs. William JOHNSON of Forest City, formerly of Clear Lake. He was employed by the Imperial Seed compnay before entering the service. Mrs. JOHNSON was Corabelle GRELL before her marriage. They have 2 children, Robert, 3, and Anita Mae, born 2 weeks after her father entered service. Mrs. JOHNSON is now employed by the Imperial Seed company.

Cpl. JOHNSON's last letter was received here about 2 weeks ago.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Tuesday, February 13, 1945, Page 4

CLEAR LAKE BRIEFS

Mrs. Kenneth L. JOHNSON received a card from the war department Monday stating that her husband, Cpl. JOHNSON, who suffered shell wounds in the lower part of his back Jan. 17, in Germany, is showing normal improvement.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Thursday, February 15, 1945, Page 19

Letter Tells Condition of Cpl. Johnson

Clear Lake - Mrs. Kenneth L. JOHNSON, 710 N. 3rd street, who received word from the war department Feb. 1 that her husband, Cpl. JOHNSON, had been seriously wounded in Germany Jan. 17 and is now in a hospital in Belgium, received a letter Wednesday from Capt. George W. CROFOOT, chaplain.

He said, in part, "I regret to inform you of the serious physical condition of your husband. He experienced a severe penetrating wound in the abdomen and righ side of the back involving a vertebra of the spine. He suffered a severe hemorrhage of the abdoment. He has been operated upon and is receiving blood transfusions.

"I saw him last night just before he went to surgery, visited with him and had a word of prayer. I want to assure you that he is in excellent hands and that everything possible is being done to make his recovery possible.

"You will receive monthly letters as long as his condition is considered serious and, in addition, progress reports by postal cards every 15 days."

The letter was written Feb. 5. Mrs. JOHNSON had a letter dictated by her husband 4 days after he was wounded.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Tuesday, February 20, 1945, Page 6

Mason City Private Gets
Scooped on Clipping Sent Here

Clear Lake - Pfc. Alex RINGIS, overseas, has been scooped. He sent a clipping from the Stars and Stripes showing the picture of Cpl. Kenneth L. JOHNSON receiving a blood transfusion from Gen. Dwight EISENHOWER'S blood donation. The picture was received here from army headquarters last week and published in the Clear Lake section of the Globe-Gazette. Cpl. JOHNSON is from Clear Lake.

"Ran across a clipping - figured it would look good in the local paper," wrote Pfc. RINGIS. "Cpl. Kenneth JOHNSON happens to be the lucky guy this time. We boys from Mason City and Clear Lake are doing our part. We have the best backing in the world from Mason City and Clear Lake."

Pfc. RINGIS is the son of Mrs. Antoinette RINGIS, 841 Polk place S.W. He is in the signal corps and has been overseas since last November, arriving in France at that time.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
March 08, 1945, Page 12

CPL. KENNETH L. JOHNSON DIES in BELGIUM FEB. 15

Overseas 16 Months;
Suffered Wounds in Germany on Jan. 17.

Clear Lake - Mrs. Kenneth L. JOHNSON, 710 N. 3rd street, received a message from the war department Wednesday evening as follows:

"The secretary of war asks that I assure you of his deep sympathy in the loss of your husband, Cpl. Kenneth L. JOHNSON. A report received states that he died Feb. 15 in Belgium as the result of wounds received in action. Confirming letter follows. ULIO, adjutant general."

Mrs. JOHNSON received word Feb. 1 that her husband had been seriously wounded Jan. 17 in Germany. A letter written for him on Jan. 21 said that he was in Belgium and later a picture of him in a hospital in France was received. Feb. 5 Capt. George W. CROFOOT, hcaplain, wrote that Cpl. JOHNSON had undergone an operation and received several blood transfusions and that his condition was seriouv. Later Mrs. JOHNSON received a letter which Cpl. JOHNSON had written himself and he said he was doing fine and had good care. A card from the war department was received Feb. 13 stating he was making normal recovery.

Cpl. JOHNSON was born at Thornton, Oct. 3, 1920, son of Mr. and Mrs. William JOHNSON, now living at Forest City. He lived a number of years near Clear Lake and was married to Miss Corabell GRELL Jan. 9, 1941. They lived on the Earl LAMBERT farm north of town for a time. Two children were born, Bobby, 3, and Anita Mae, 2.

Cpl. JOHNSON entered service Nov. 13, 1942, and trained at Little Rock, Ark.; Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; and at Camp Forest, Tenn., before going overseas in the fall of 1943. He landed in Ireland and went thence to England, Belgium and Germany with an engineer combat battalion.

Besides his wife and children, Cpl. JOHNSON is survived by his parents at Forest City, a brother, Howard L. JOHNSON, Clear Lake; and 5 sisters, Mrs. Ubbe WINTERS, Jr., Clear Lake; Mrs. Harley HANSEN, Algona; Mrs. Milton STILES and Miss Lorraine JOHNSON, Britt; and Miss June JOHNSON, at home.

Cpl. JOHNSON was a member of the Zion Lutheran church and of Odd Fellows ldoge No. 187. Mrs. JOHNSON lives with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John C. GRELL.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
March 14, 1945, Page 9

Letters Confirming Cpl. K. L. Johnson's Death Are Received

Clear Lake - Mrs. Kenneth L. JOHNSON, 710 N. 3rd street, has received a letter from Maj. Gen. J. A. ULIO, the adjutant general, confirming the news received by telegram a few days ago that her husband, Cpl. JOHNSON, who was wounded in action in Germany Jan. 17, had died in a hospital in Belgium Feb. 15.

A 2nd letter has been received from Capt. George W. CROFOOT, chaplain, who had been with Cpl. JOHNSON a number of times, stating that Cpl. JOHNSON had the best of care and that everthing possible was done to save his life. He said that Cpl. JOHNSON was buried in an American cemtery in Belgium with appropriate religious services. He inclosed (sic) a copy of a ltter sent by persons in the Netherlands to an American soldier expressing their gratitude for liberation from the nazi yoke.

Mrs. JOHNSON has also received a card of sympathy from General MASHALL praising her husband as a valiant fighter for his country.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
April 05, 1945, Page 15

Navy Mothers, United Service Women
Plan to Attend Services

Clear Lake - Mrs. O. J. PIERCE, commander of the Navy Mothers club, and Mrs. Walter PRAMER, president of the United Service Women's unit, request members of their respective organizations to mee at Legion hall Sunday at 2 o'clock to attend memorial services for Pfc. (sic) Kenneth L. JOHNSON at the Zion Lutheran church at 2:30 o'clock. Navy Mothers are asked to wear their caps.

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2013

Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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