1932
William
2014
William "Bill" Johnston
August 20, 1932 — December 25, 2014
William "Bill" Johnston, Jr., 82, passed away peacefully, on December 25, 2014. Funeral services to honor his life will be held Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 12:00 Noon in the chapel of FairHaven Funeral Home, 4989 Mount Pleasant Church Road, Macon, with Reverend Rick Moore officiating. The family will greet friends beginning at 10:30 until service time. Burial will be held in Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2617 Vinson Highway, Milledgeville, Georgia with military honors.
Mr. Johnston was born in Tallassee, Alabama, to the late William Thomas Johnston, Sr. and Ruby Lou Williams Johnston. He proudly served our country in the United States Army and was a decorated Korean War Veteran. Bill didn't talk much about his service in Korea, however he would mention that his time in the Army was one of the things of which he felt the most proud.
Corporal Johnston entered the service in April of 1950. Following basic training, he was assigned to Washington D.C. where his primary duty was serving as a member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, (The Old Guard). Of the many historical events in which Cpl. Johnston participated he remembered as most outstanding the homecoming of General MacArthur, the burial of the late 8th Army CG, Lt. Gen. Walton H. Walker, and the honor of guarding the Tomb of the Unknowns.
After being stationed in Washington for one year, Cpl. Johnston volunteered for duty in Korea. This was in August of 1951, and 30 days later he found himself at the front. Cpl. Johnston quickly advanced to the position of platoon leader. On September 7, 1951, Cpl. Johnston was fighting with Company I of the 25th Infantry Regiment near Jaugwon-ni. Cpl. Johnston's unit was holding defensive positions against attack by a strong hostile force. When a squad was sent out to secure a small hill that threatened the platoon's location, a fierce volley of fire halted the advance and wounded three of the men. Disregarding the intense concentration of crossfire, Cpl. Johnston crawled to the forward slope of the hill, three times, under the observation of the encircling enemy, and brought the helpless men to safety where first aid was administered.
It was these heroic acts that led not only to him being severely wounded, but also being awarded the Bronze Star Medal with letter "V" device, Korean Service medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, and the United Nations Service Medal. He will be buried still carrying shrapnel from his acts of valor in the war.
Bill went on to a long career with the Department of Defense as a Civil Servant, retiring in 1987 from Robins Air Force Base. Bill spent much of his leisure time as an avid golfer, coaching his two children through recreational league sports and church softball, and working as a volunteer at Houston Healthcare.
He is preceded in death by his former wife of 38 years Sue Hill Johnston, parents William T. Johnston Sr. and Ruby Lou Williams Johnston, brothers James Howard "Peck" Johnston (Eunice), Robert H. Johnston, Virgin R. Johnston Sr. and sisters Margarette Johnston Jarrell (George), and Verna Johnston Broussard.
He is survived by his two children, Lori Johnston Gaylor (Charles) and Jody C. Johnston (Pamela), four grandchildren, Lilyanne Wimberly Tyler, Jana Warnecke, Chelsea Warnecke, and Emily Ann Johnston, and one great grandchild, Nicholas Forrest Warnecke.
Surviving siblings are Opal Deal Johnston Holmes (Leon), Rebecca "Becky" Johnston Shirley (Bill, deceased), Renford "Rent" Johnston (Rennie), and Freddie M. Johnston (Virginia). He is also survived by brother-in-law Irby J. Broussard and sister-in-law Kaye Johnston, and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be truly missed by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations please be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, 3343 Peachtree Road, NE #M20, Atlanta, Georgia, 30326. www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Friends may sign the online register at www.fairhavenmacon.com
FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services has charge of arrangements.
Mr. Johnston was born in Tallassee, Alabama, to the late William Thomas Johnston, Sr. and Ruby Lou Williams Johnston. He proudly served our country in the United States Army and was a decorated Korean War Veteran. Bill didn't talk much about his service in Korea, however he would mention that his time in the Army was one of the things of which he felt the most proud.
Corporal Johnston entered the service in April of 1950. Following basic training, he was assigned to Washington D.C. where his primary duty was serving as a member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, (The Old Guard). Of the many historical events in which Cpl. Johnston participated he remembered as most outstanding the homecoming of General MacArthur, the burial of the late 8th Army CG, Lt. Gen. Walton H. Walker, and the honor of guarding the Tomb of the Unknowns.
After being stationed in Washington for one year, Cpl. Johnston volunteered for duty in Korea. This was in August of 1951, and 30 days later he found himself at the front. Cpl. Johnston quickly advanced to the position of platoon leader. On September 7, 1951, Cpl. Johnston was fighting with Company I of the 25th Infantry Regiment near Jaugwon-ni. Cpl. Johnston's unit was holding defensive positions against attack by a strong hostile force. When a squad was sent out to secure a small hill that threatened the platoon's location, a fierce volley of fire halted the advance and wounded three of the men. Disregarding the intense concentration of crossfire, Cpl. Johnston crawled to the forward slope of the hill, three times, under the observation of the encircling enemy, and brought the helpless men to safety where first aid was administered.
It was these heroic acts that led not only to him being severely wounded, but also being awarded the Bronze Star Medal with letter "V" device, Korean Service medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, and the United Nations Service Medal. He will be buried still carrying shrapnel from his acts of valor in the war.
Bill went on to a long career with the Department of Defense as a Civil Servant, retiring in 1987 from Robins Air Force Base. Bill spent much of his leisure time as an avid golfer, coaching his two children through recreational league sports and church softball, and working as a volunteer at Houston Healthcare.
He is preceded in death by his former wife of 38 years Sue Hill Johnston, parents William T. Johnston Sr. and Ruby Lou Williams Johnston, brothers James Howard "Peck" Johnston (Eunice), Robert H. Johnston, Virgin R. Johnston Sr. and sisters Margarette Johnston Jarrell (George), and Verna Johnston Broussard.
He is survived by his two children, Lori Johnston Gaylor (Charles) and Jody C. Johnston (Pamela), four grandchildren, Lilyanne Wimberly Tyler, Jana Warnecke, Chelsea Warnecke, and Emily Ann Johnston, and one great grandchild, Nicholas Forrest Warnecke.
Surviving siblings are Opal Deal Johnston Holmes (Leon), Rebecca "Becky" Johnston Shirley (Bill, deceased), Renford "Rent" Johnston (Rennie), and Freddie M. Johnston (Virginia). He is also survived by brother-in-law Irby J. Broussard and sister-in-law Kaye Johnston, and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be truly missed by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations please be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, 3343 Peachtree Road, NE #M20, Atlanta, Georgia, 30326. www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Friends may sign the online register at www.fairhavenmacon.com
FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services has charge of arrangements.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William "Bill" Johnston, please visit our flower store.
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