Seaman First Class Calvin Johnson

Our Hometown Heroes

Calvin Johnson

Aboard USS Leutze When Ship Was Attacked

Calvin Johnson achieved the rank of Seaman First Class served in the United States Navy onboard the USS Leutze, a destroyer type ship.

Johnson, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson of Rover, joined the US Navy when he was 17 years old. This was in 1943.

The ship, USS Leutze, took part in several of the major battles of World War II, including; Iwo Jima, Luzon (Philippines) and Okinawa. The ship was hit numerous times during these battles.

The last big amphibious operation of the war took place within range of Japanese land-based planes near Okinawa. While escorting the battleship New York for the pre-invasion shelling of 27 March, 1944, destroyer Leutze made two depth charge runs which apparently sank a Japanese midget submarine. On a second voyage with Mobile and Oakland, she arrived at Okinawa 3 April, 1944. The first of the Japanese massed kamikaze operations “Ten Go”, began.

The first wave of attacking aircraft began to filter through the outer screen on 6 April. The Leutze knocked down three kamikaze planes into the ocean. Disregarding the danger, the Leutze proceeded alongside to assist the thrice-hit and burning Newcomb. A fourth plane hit the Leutze, skidded across the deck and exploded its bomb against Leutze’s port quarter. The kamikaze almost severed the fantail and left seven crew members missing, one dead, and 30 wounded. Johnson was the dead seaman.

Two months later the ship pulled into dry dock for repairs. Johnson’s body was recovered from the ammunition magazine and is buried on the Zamami Islands in the Ryukus (near Okinawa, Japan).

Seaman Johnson had just passed his 18th birthday when he was Killed in Action.