African American, Company F, Alaska Highway. Born: 15 August 1922, Licking County, OH. Died: 16 July 1949, Newark, Ohio. Enlisted: 8 December 1941, Ft. Hayes, Columbus, OH. Education: grammar school.
Newspaper article-Newark, Ohio, Saturday Evening, July 18, 1949. John Leroy Johnson, 26, was shot and instantly killed by Willy James Monroe. County Coroner James H. Pollock pronounced the victim dead at the scene. He was shot in the right side of the face and temple. The coroner ruled the case a homicide. Mr. Monroe claimed that while John and he were handling the gun it was an accidentally discharged. Monroe was held in the city jail pending the filing of formal charges. According to John’s father and other witnesses, Johnson and Monroe were close friends.
John was a resident of Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio. He was employed as a section hand on the Pennsylvania Railroad. His mother was Julia Byes Johnson and his father was Jack (Leroy) Johnson a laborer in a stove foundry. John married Phyllis Willett and they had a daughter, Ellen. His brother was Daniel and his sister was Genora Johnson.
Serial #35270280