Gordon Johnston

Volunteered to storm Bud Dajo, surviving his grievous wounds

At Mount Bud Dajo on Jolo Island in the Philippines, First Lieutenant Gordon Johnston voluntarily joined an assault on the defenders' positions and was dangerously wounded. His Medal of Honor citation records the action on 7 March 1906. Serving with the U.S. Army's Signal Corps, he earned the nation's highest military decoration for his conduct during the attack.

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on 25 May 1874, Johnston graduated from Princeton in 1896 and briefly coached football at the University of North Carolina. When the Spanish-American War began, he enlisted and transferred to Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders. His unit remained in the United States. At Montauk Point, New York, he became Roosevelt's mounted orderly and formed a friendship that endured for years.

Returning to military service in 1899, Johnston received a commission and joined the 43rd Infantry in the Philippines. His leadership of scouts in action in 1900 later earned the Distinguished Service Cross.

During World War I, he served with the 82nd Division in France, helping direct operations in the Argonne and earning the Distinguished Service Medal. Later assignments took him to the Philippines and Mexico. He reached the Regular Army rank of colonel in 1929.

Johnston was chief of staff of the 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Sam Houston when a polo accident caused his death on 8 March 1934. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Camp Gordon Johnston in Florida subsequently carried his name.