Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Allen
Levi
Johnson
1914-08-30

–

1992-09-01

Born:

Meridian

, 

Mississippi

Home:

Jackson

, 

Mississippi

Buried: 

Pascagoula

, 

Mississippi

Cemetery:

Machpelah Cemetery

Allen Johnson was the son of a Methodist minister and grew up in Mississippi. He graduated from Clark University and Gammon Theological Seminary, both in Atlanta, Georgia, and was ordained a Methodist minister. During World War II he entered military service and was commissioned a U.S. Army chaplain. After the war he returned to civilian ministry with pastorates in Brandon Chapel, Mississippi, and taught in Campbell College in Jackson, Mississippi, a junior college in Mississippi focused on educating black students. In 1963 Johnson, like his father once had, became the head pastor at Pratt Memorial United Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. In 1966, Johnson hosted the Tenth Annual Southern Christian Leadership Conference at the Masonic Temple in Jackson. He became involved in the Civil Rights movement and participated in marches with Dr. Martin Luther KingJr. He was called to Phoenix, Arizona, to pastor a new Colored congregation there, and retired from ministry from Saint Paul United Methodist Church, Moss Point, Mississippi in 1987.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Division:

    92d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    September 3, 1944
    Headquarters, IV Corps, General Orders No. 30 (1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Chaplain’s Corps) Allen Levi Johnson (ASN: 0-406913), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as a Chaplain with the 92d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Vorna, Italy, on 3 September 1944. A patrol ran into an enemy machine gun emplacement and was forced to withdraw. One of the members of the patrol was seriously wounded and given first aid, but had to be left behind on the field of battle when the enemy started a concentration of machine gun and artillery fire on their position, making it impracticable to evacuate the wounded man. Chaplain Johnson called for a medical aid man and the two of them ran approximately four hundred fifty yards over an exposed area to aid the wounded man. After administering first aid, although under continuous enemy artillery fire, Captain Johnson instructed the medical aid man to leave and have a vehicle ready to meet him at the nearest covered position. He then placed the wounded man on his shoulders, and although still under fire from the enemy, carried him to a place of safety from where he was evacuated. Chaplain Johnson’s gallant act in all probability saved the wounded man’s life. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Chaplain Johnson, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.