Ralph Johnson, b. 1920
Ralph Johnson was born on 2 May 1920 in Lexington, MO, one of three
children. He graduated from high school in 1938 (earning a reserve commission
in the Army), then worked for North American Aviation in California 1939-41
before being called to active duty in mid-1941.
Ralph was
posted to the Air Depot, 20th Air Base Group, and in August 1941
stationed at Nichols Field, Philippines. He was one of thousands of Americans
that surrendered to Japanese forces at Bataan in April 1942. After brief stays
at Camp O’Donnell and Cabanatuan, in September 1942 Ralph was in a group of POWs
transferred to the Davao Penal Colony, on Mindanao. Here he was on various work
details, including rice paddies, logging, and laying telephone lines. In August
1944, along with more than 700 others, Ralph was placed on a ship bound for
Japan; this group was transferred to the Shinyo Maru in early September.
On 7
September 1944 the Shinyo Maru was torpedoed and sunk by the American
submarine Paddle (SS 263); only 83 men survived the sinking. These men
were picked up off Mindanao by another American submarine, and after brief
island stops transported back the USA. Ralph was de-briefed in Washington,
D.C., had some months of leave, and ended the war stationed at a stateside
base. He remained in the service until 1950.
Again a
civilian, Ralph graduated from USC with a degree in engineering (1954), then
held a variety of jobs. He retired in the 1980s. After a pre-war marriage,
Ralph re-married in 1980 (wife Jean), and relocated to Florida. He was
interviewed in December 2003 at his home in Sarasota, FL.
Biographical information and all interview content © Thomas Saylor, 2001-03
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