George Johnson

George Johnson was born in Utica, MS before moving to Mason City with his mother. His mother was married in Iowa and George identified with his step father’s last name of Brown. He graduated from Mason City High School before attending North Iowa Area Community College. As a young man, he was a varsity wrestler and active at the local Manly Baptist Church. In August 1967 Johnson decided to leave college and join the Army. He deployed to South Vietnam in February 1968 as an infantryman with the 199th Infantry Brigade. On August 28, 1968 PFC Johnson was killed by a booby trap in an area south of Saigon. Johnson was posthumously promoted to Corporal. CPL Johnson was buried at Elmwood Saint Joseph’s Cemetery in Mason City.