19 AND RECKLESS: THE ONLY KIND THAT SURVIVED'

Charlotte Observer, The (NC)
1995-02-12
Section: MAIN NEWS
Edition: ONE - FOUR
Page: 2A

   DEBORAH PARKHILL MULLIS, Staff Writer

Bill Johnson was a 19-year-old kid who ``didn't give a hoot about anything'' when he landed on Iwo Jima on Feb. 19, 1945.

``Wild and reckless - that's the only kind that survived,'' said the retired manager of a truck equipment company. He received the Navy Cross and the Bronze Star at Iwo Jima. Assigned to Company B, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Johnson kept in radio contact with the tanks while following them on foot in front of the infantry.

``That's how I got caught in these awkward situations,'' said the Charlotte resident.

In one such situation, U.S. tanks accidentally ran across a mine field. He called for help on the radio. ``While I was out there, (Japanese soldiers) were shooting at me. I could hear the bullets ricocheting off the tanks.''

Another time, Johnson dodged grenades trying to rescue American servicemen trapped by enemy fire coming from a concrete emplacement called a pillbox.

``We were moving across the island, taking the island step by step. . . . This pillbox had all our boys pinned down so the infantry ordered the tanks to go up and put it out of commission. I was standing behind the tanks, directing them when (Japanese soldiers) started lobbing grenades at me.

``I had to throw some of them back,'' Johnson said.

As for his bravery, the Asheville native says he ``just didn't know any better.'' Maybe not, but his bravery and brushes with death were detailed by Marine Corps combat correspondent Bill Hegan and published in The Asheville Citizen-Times on March 21, 1945.

Johnson decided not to join World War II veterans visiting Japan for the 50th anniversary. ``I started to go, and then I decided once was enough.''