Veteran

Monday was Veteran's day and in honor of that I thought I would share a story about David's grandfather. The following is an article written about him during World War II, he was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions.

Captured GI Driver

Turns Captor of 19

WITH 84th INF. DIV.--Cpl. Claud Johnson, of Letohatchee, Ala.,was captured by the Germans one night but the next day turned captor, bringing a Jerry lieutenant and 18 of his men back to American lines. 

Johnson was driving a truck in a convoy of the First Bn. when he met some Tiger tanks. The Germans captured him, and a GI truck.

"What a ride," said Johnson. "We hit a German on a motorcycle, and finally the truck broke down--the way that crazy Kraut drove it. "

That night the Germans moved into a woods. They made a fire and permitted Johnson to make one, too. He piled wet grass on his to make as much smoke as possible.

Almost immediately American artillery opened up on the position, and Johnson persuaded the German lieutenant to surrender himself and his 18 men. 

Mr. Robert said when his daddy told them about being captured he said it was during the Battle of the Bulge and it was on Christmas Day. He said he had a piece of bread and a small piece of potato to eat. 

When you think about the setting, what he was able to do is simply amazing. Everyone including him was used to killing. That was what they did every day for several years. How do you convince 19 armed desperate enemy soldiers to surrender to an unarmed man? You would think they would have shot him. Somehow I have to see God's hand on him. No other way to explain it!  -Robert Johnson