MOH

Medal of Honor: Leroy Johnson – World War II – December 15, 1944

Facing a well-entrenched enemy position, one squad leader completed the mission—and when grenades landed among his men, chose to give his life to save theirs.

December 16, 2025

Name: Leroy Johnson
Rank: Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company K, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division
Place and Date: Near Limon, Leyte, Philippine Islands – 15 December 1944
Entered Service At: Oakdale, Louisiana
Born: Caney Creek, Louisiana
Departed: December 15, 1944 (Killed in Action)
Accredited To: Louisiana

Summary of Action

On December 15, 1944, near Limon on the island of Leyte, Sergeant Leroy Johnson was leading a nine-man patrol tasked with reconnoitering a ridge held by a well-entrenched Japanese force. While moving forward, Johnson located an enemy machine-gun position dominating the approaches to several other hostile emplacements.

Ordering his men to remain back, Johnson crawled alone to within six yards of the gun. When an enemy crewman rose to man the weapon, Johnson withdrew and returned to his patrol, reporting the position to his commanding officer. Ordered to destroy the gun, he selected three men, armed them with grenades, and personally led them back toward the objective.

Taking partial cover behind a log, the group successfully knocked out the machine gun and began their assault. At that moment, enemy troops on the flank threw several grenades into the area. As the men moved for cover, Johnson saw two unexploded grenades lying close to his comrades.

Realizing that the imminent blasts would kill or seriously wound the men beside him, Sergeant Johnson deliberately threw himself onto the grenades, absorbing their full force in his body. Mortally wounded, he died shortly afterward.

By sacrificing his life to save his fellow soldiers, Sergeant Leroy Johnson ensured the survival of his patrol and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

JOHNSON, LEROY
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company K, 126th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Limon, Leyte, Philippine Islands, 15 December 1944.
Entered service at: Oakdale, La.
Birth: Caney Creek, La.
G.O. No.: 83, 2 October 1945.

Citation:
He was squad leader of a 9-man patrol sent to reconnoiter a ridge held by a well-entrenched enemy force. Seeing an enemy machinegun position, he ordered his men to remain behind while he crawled to within 6 yards of the gun. One of the enemy crew jumped up and prepared to man the weapon. Quickly withdrawing, Sgt. Johnson rejoined his patrol and reported the situation to his commanding officer. Ordered to destroy the gun, which covered the approaches to several other enemy positions, he chose 3 other men, armed them with hand grenades, and led them to a point near the objective. After taking partial cover behind a log, the men had knocked out the gun and begun an assault when hostile troops on the flank hurled several grenades. As he started for cover, Sgt. Johnson saw 2 unexploded grenades which had fallen near his men. Knowing that his comrades would be wounded or killed by the explosion, he deliberately threw himself on the grenades and received their full charge in his body. Fatally wounded by the blast, he died soon afterward. Through his outstanding gallantry in sacrificing his life for his comrades, Sgt. Johnson provided a shining example of the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.