During World War II, the 93rd Bomb Squadron of the U.S. Army Air Force went to the Philippines in 1941 and fought in the Battle of The Philippines until 1942. A part of the group was at Clark Field, and another went to Mindanao. Some ground forces fought during the Battle of Bataan and were part of the Bataan Death March. Some soldiers died along the march and many died in the camps. 

When the marchers arrived at Camp O’Donnell, there were an estimated 60,000 Filipinos and 9,000 American prisoners of war. The treatment was very harsh and many prisoners died from torture, starvation, dehydration, and lack of medical care. An estimated 1,500 Americans died in the camps, with many more Filipino deaths. 

Emery H. Johnson served with the 93rd Bomb Squadron of the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

Emery H. Johnson was born on November 5, 1914 in Beloit, Wisconsin to Elah and Armeda (Fiese) Johnson. Emery’s father Elah was born in Juda in Green County.

From the 1920 U.S. Census, the Johnson family lived in Rock Island Township, Rock Island County, Illinois. The household included father Elah, mother Armeda, and children Emery and Louise. Father Elah was a machinist in a foundry.

A sister Genevieve was born in 1921. In 1922, Emery’s mother Armeda died in Moline, Rock County, Illinois. Genevieve went to live with a maternal aunt and uncle.

Father Elah married Gyssel Pauline Foulds on July 3, 1924 in Rock Island County, Illinois.

From the 1930 U.S. Census, the Johnson family was living in Rock Island Township, Rock Island County, Illinois. The household included father Elah, wife Gyssel P., and children Emery, Marquette (stepson), Kenneth (stepson) and Louise. Father Elah was a machinist in a foundry.

Emory H. Johnson is listed in the 1935 City Directory for Youngstown, Ohio.

The February 21, 1938 The News Herald (Franklin, Pennsylvania) reports a marriage license application for “Emery H. Johnson, Youngstown, O., and Eleanor N. Johnston, Mausury, O.” They were married in Pennsylvania in 1938 and later divorced. They were living separately on the 1940 U.S. census.

From the 1940 U.S. Census, Emery H. Johnson was living in Rantoul Township, Champaign County, Illinois. He was single and had a H4 education. His last place of residence was Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio. He was a soldier in the U.S. Army with the Fourth School Squadron at Chanute Field.

On the WWII Prisoner of War Records, Emery H. Johnson died as a prisoner of war on May 7, 1942 in Japan. He was at “PW Camp #4 — O’Donnel Tarlac Luzon Philippines.”

From the February 9, 1949 Janesville Daily Gazette obituary for Pfc. Emery Johnson, the news from Monroe was “The body of Pfc. Emery H. Johnson, 28, a former resident of Monroe, will arrive at 1:30 p.m. Thursday and will be met by military groups. The body will be taken directly to Greenwood cemetery where military services will be held.

Pfc. Johnson was born Nov. 5, 1914 in Beloit, the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Johnson. He enlisted in the air corps in April, 1940, and died May 25, 1942, in Camp O’Donnell in the Philippines while a prisoner of the Japanese.

Survivors are a son, Don Emery, Farrell, Pa,; two sisters, Mrs. Byrel Ryan, Akron, O., and Mrs. Genevieve Morse, Hollywood, Calif. His father died in 1945 and his mother in 1922.”

Emery H. Johnson was repatriated and reburied in Greenwood Cemetery in Monroe in 1949.

Thank you, Private First Class Emery H. Johnson, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.