Prior to U.S. entry in World War II, the 11th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army activated for service in April of 1941 at Fort McClellan, Alabama. In 1942, the regiment shipped to Iceland for 15 months and then to England. They arrived on the Normandy coast on July 10, 1944 and joined the 5th Infantry Division with General Patton’s Third Army. They fought in Operation Cobra in France. They fought at Metz in the fall of 1944 and then the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944-45. In March of 1945, they fought at Oppenheim. When Victory in Europe was reached on May 8, 1945, the 11th Regiment was in Czechoslovakia.

Lafayette County soldier, Stanley Alton Johnson, served with the 11th Infantry Regiment. Johnson was born Oct. 25, 1919 in Argyle, Lafayette County, to Sidney and Anna (Ludvigson) Johnson.

From the 1920 U.S. Census, the Johnson family lived in Argyle Township in Lafayette County. The household included father Sidney, mother Anna, and children Mildred, Arleen, and Stanley. Father Sidney was a laborer on a dairy farm for wages.

From the 1930 U.S. Census, the Johnson family lived in Blanchard Township in Lafayette County. The household included two more children, twins, Wayne and Walter. Father Sidney was a laborer at odd jobs for wages. 

From the 1940 U.S. Census, Stanley Johnson was likely working as a farm hand on the Gilman Helmeid farm in York Township, Green County. He was 20 years old. In 1935, he was living in rural Lafayette County. He had an 8th grade education.

On July 1, 1941, Stanley Alton Johnson registered for the WWII draft. He was 21 and worked as a farmer. His place of residence was Route 2, Blanchardville. His next of kin was his father Sydney (sic) Johnson in Blanchardville. His employer was Perry Everson in Argyle.

On Nov. 6, 1941, Stanley A. Johnson enlisted at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois one month prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He had a grammar school education. His civilian occupation was “farm hands, general farms.”

From the Sept. 22, 1942 Wisconsin State Journal notice titled “Two Lafayette Men Drown in Iceland,” the article stated “Two Lafayette County soldiers were drowned while on duty in Iceland, parents were informed by the way department today.

They were Pvt. Stanley A. Johnson, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Johnson, Blanchardville, and Pvt. Henry E. O’Brien, 24, son of Mrs. Ezra Summers, Darlington.”

From the Blanchardville Blade, Sept. 24, 1942 article titled “Pvt. Stanley Alton Johnson, Aged 22, Is Blanchardville’s First Casualty In World War II,” the article stated “Pvt. Stanley Alton Johnson, aged 22 years, Blanchardville, was drowned in the North Atlantic Sept. 11, 1942... He had been stationed in Iceland since April 5th. He is Blanchardville’s first casualty in World War II.

Stanley left Nov. 6, 1941, from Darlington to Ft. Sheridan, Ill., for induction into the army. From there he was transferred to Camp Croft, S.C., later to Camp Custer, Mich., and then to Iceland...

Private Johnson … spent the days of his youth in the vicinity of Argyle, Wiota and Blanchardville. He is survived by his parents; two sisters, Arlene (Mrs. Lloyd Higbee) of Madison, Mildred (Mrs. Sanford Gilbertson); twin brothers Wayne and Walter, and a nephew Richard Gilbertson, age 4 years, all of Blanchardville. A brother died in infancy.

Public memorial services will be held in Trinity Lutheran church …”

From the Oct. 26, 1947 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Bodies of Madison War Vets of ETO Returned,” the article stated “The list of war dead…”  included Pvt. Stanley A. Johnson.

Private Stanley A. Johnson is listed on the WWII Honor Roll list for Lafayette County, Wisconsin. His death status was DNB.

The Blanchardville American Legion, Dobson-Johnson Post 142, was named after him as he was the first local soldier killed in World War II.

Private Johnson was repatriated and reburied in Apple Grove Cemetery in Argyle in Lafayette County.

Thank you, Private Stanley Alton Johnson, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.