GEORGE A JOHNSON DE 583

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort
Keel Laid 24 November 1943 - Launched 12 January 1944


1. USS GEORGE A. JOHNSON DE-583
Commissioned 15 April 1944 - Decommissioned 31 May 1946

Assigned August 1946 as 12th Naval District, San Diego Training Ship

2. USS GEORGE A. JOHNSON DE-583
Placed "In Commission, In Reserve" 29 September 1950, assigned to NRT
Decommissioned September 1957

Stricken 1 November 1965
Sold 19 September 1966 for scrap

 

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

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1. USS George A. Johnson DE-583 Covers Page 1    (1945)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

 

Locy Type 2z

1945-07-15

Censored WWII use

 

Other Information

USS GEORGE A. JOHNSON earned the China Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 1 Battle star, the European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal (2 awards) during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - Private George Alfred Johnson, USMC (26 September 1922 - 9 August 1942).
Johnson enlisted in the US Marine Corps 28 January 1942. He served at Parris Island, SC and Quantico, VA before sailing for the Pacific in April 1942. Attached to the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, Private Johnson participated in the invasion of Tulagi, Solomon Islands, 7 August 1942. During mop-up operations 2 days later, his squad came under rifle fire from a sniper’s nest in a nearby cave. Private Johnson rushed to the mouth of the cave and continued to throw in grenades until he was killed, allowing his squad to advance. For his indomitable fighting spirit and outstanding bravery, Private Johnson was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal and the Purple Heart medal.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. Alfred R. Johnson, Private Johnson's mother.

 

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