7/26/2021 1:08:00 PM After a long wait, Johnson has his medals
After waiting for more than three quarters of a century, Racine’s Joyce Johnson, left, has the medals he earned for flying the B-17 Flying Fortress in World War II. He got them on his 100th birthday at a ceremony honoring him for his military service at the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial in Rochester on Tuesday, July 20. Kent Larson of Stewartville, right, Johnson’s former Racine neighbor, enjoyed a lively conversation with Johnson after the ceremony.
Editor
After waiting more than three quarters of a century, Racine's Joyce Johnson has the medals he earned for flying the B-17 Flying Fortress in World War II.
He got them at a special ceremony on his 100th birthday last week.
Hundreds of well-wishers gathered at the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial in Rochester on Tuesday, July 20 to honor Johnson for his service to America. They serenaded him with the "Happy Birthday" song, then followed up moments later with a standing ovation.
From June 27, 1944 until July 23, 1946, Captain Johnson served in the Mighty 8th Air Force in both the 306th Bombardment Group (known as the Reich Wreckers), the 384th Bombardment Group, credited with dropping the last bombs of the war, and in the 9th Air Force. In that time, he earned many medals and decorations honoring him for his valor...
For more on this story pick up your copy of the July 27 Stewartville STAR.
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