William James Johnston Sr.

Holding the line at Anzio despite serious wound to his chest

William James Johnston Sr. earned the Medal of Honor for his actions near Padiglione, Italy, from February 17 to 19, 1944. An Army private first class in Company G, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division, he held his machine-gun position through repeated attacks.

Johnston repelled an approaching German force, fought attackers at close range and covered his platoon’s withdrawals. Seriously wounded in the chest, he returned to his gun with another soldier’s help. Reported killed, he nevertheless made his way through enemy lines to American positions on February 19 and supplied valuable information about enemy dispositions.

Born in Trenton, New Jersey, on August 15, 1918, Johnston received the medal on August 30, 1944. He died on May 29, 1990, and was buried at Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. On 17 February 1944, near Padiglione, Italy, he observed and fired upon an attacking force of approximately 80 Germans, causing at least 25 casualties and forcing withdrawal of the remainder. All that day he manned his gun without relief, subject to mortar, artillery, and sniper fire. Two Germans individually worked so close to his position that his machine gun was ineffective, whereupon he killed one with his pistol, the second with a rifle taken from another soldier. When a rifleman protecting his gun position was killed by a sniper, he immediately moved the body and relocated the machine gun in that spot in order to obtain a better field of fire. He volunteered to cover the platoon's withdrawal and was the last man to leave that night. In his new position he maintained an all-night vigil, the next day causing seven German casualties. On the afternoon of the 18th, the organization on the left flank having been forced to withdraw, he again covered the withdrawal of his own organization. Shortly thereafter, he was seriously wounded over the heart, and a passing soldier saw him trying to crawl up the embankment. The soldier aided him in resuming his position behind the machine gun which was soon heard in action for about 10 minutes. Though reported killed, Pfc. Johnston was seen returning to the American lines on the morning of 19 February slowly and painfully working his way back from his overrun position through enemy lines. He gave valuable information of new enemy dispositions. His heroic determination to destroy the enemy and his disregard of his own safety aided immeasurably in halting a strong enemy attack, caused an enormous amount of enemy casualties, and so inspired his fellow soldiers that they fought for and held a vitally important position against greatly superior forces.