 1st Lieutenant Howard W. Johnson, USMC | |
| Born: | September 22, 1916 Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States |
|---|---|
| Died: | February 19, 1945 (aged 28) Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands, Japanese Empire |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Guard |
| College | Georgia |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1940–1941 | Green Bay Packers |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank |  First Lieutenant |
| Unit |  Marine Division 23rd Marines |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Silver Star (2) Purple Heart |
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Howard White "Smiley" Johnson (September 22, 1916 – February 19, 1945) was a professional American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He played the 1937, 1938 and 1939 college football seasons at the University of Georgia before joining the Green Bay Packers for the 1940 and 1941 seasons.[1]
He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and became an officer. In addition to seeing combat with the 4th Marine Division, he played for a service football team in Maui, Hawaii.[2] He served with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines through the battles of Kwajalein, Saipan (earning a Silver Star), and Tinian.[3] On February 19, 1945, 1st Lieutenant Johnson was killed in action by a mortar shell at the Battle of Iwo Jima and awarded a second Silver Star posthumously; he was one of three former NFL players to die on Iwo Jima along with Jack Chevigny and Jack Lummus. Johnson was buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu on February 2, 1949.[2]
References
- ↑ "Battlefield heroes: Smiley Johnson". Cold, Hard Football Facts. May 24, 2007. Archived from the original on 8 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
- 1 2 Anton, Todd; Nowlin, Bill (November 15, 2013). When Football Went to War. Triumph Books. pp. 60–62. ISBN 978-1600788451.
- ↑ Lawrence, Dave (March 4, 2005). "New HOF Display Honors Packers War Hero". Green Bay Packers. Archived from the original on 2008-10-13. Retrieved 16 January 2010.