The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRIBUTE TO RAYMOND JOHNSON OF FORT WALTON BEACH” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2394-E2395 on Dec. 19, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO RAYMOND JOHNSON OF FORT WALTON BEACH
______
HON. JOE SCARBOROUGH
of florida
in the house of representatives
Monday, December 18, 1995
Mr. SCARBOROUGH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell this Chamber a story of remarkable heroism, a story I recently heard about a World War II veteran who resided in my district and who, in a time of crisis in our Nation's history rose to the defense of his country. I relay this story, because it lets us know that, at a time when cynicism and pessimism seem pervasive, we need to be reminded that we are a nation of heroes and that we can rise to meet the challenges before us. Mr. Raymond Johnson was just a hero, and in the best tradition of the American spirit he rose to the challenges before him for no other reason than that he loved his country.
Raymond Johnson was like any other young American boy growing up before World War II. He enjoyed the innocence of playing baseball, climbing trees, fishing, and the other simplicities of a young life. But when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, bringing the United States into World War II, Raymond Johnson did his duty and went off to serve his country as an infantryman in the U.S. Army. In April 1942, Raymond and hundreds of other young men traveled to Inniskillan, Northern Ireland, for specialized training as an Army scout. After further training in Inverary, Scotland, Raymond and his comrades found themselves in North Africa with the 168th Regiment of the 34th Infantry Division. Their enemy--Field Marshall Rommel's vaunted Afrika Korps.
Soon enough, the 34th Infantry Division received their baptism of fire during the Allied invasion of North Africa on November 17, 1942. Raymond served gallantly in battle during two major campaigns in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. After being bombarded both day and night by German artillery fire for over 1 month, the 34th Infantry found themselves divided and in disarray. One morning, just before dawn, Raymond and his comrades found themselves encircled by German tanks and infantry. Those American soldiers who were not machine gunned immediately found their positions overrun and themselves taken prisoner. That morning marked what would become 2\1/2\ years of hell for Raymond Johnson in Nazi prisoner of war camps in Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, and ultimately the heart of the German interior.
Meanwhile, Raymond's family had no word of their son's fate. Reported missing, probably killed in action, the family feared for the worst. Then, a Canadian ham radio operator monitoring Vatican City Radio recorded the names of American prisoners of war that a Vatican City envoy had visited in a Nazi-controlled camp near Mount Vesuvius. Hearing the name Raymond Johnson and his home town broadcast over the radio, the ham radio operator contacted the Johnson family, giving them the first word that their son was alive. Despite his capture, the Johnson family, steadfast in their Roman Catholic faith, thanked God that their son was alive and that a priest had visited the men, giving them the sacrament of communion. Faith in God and confidence in their country were all that the Johnson family had to sustain them for some time to come.
Department of State Cables 446, 464, 579, and 649 mentioned Raymond Johnson as being sighted in Nazi POW Camps 7A and 3B near Furstonberg along with other prisoners, but the family was told nothing more than that their Raymond was a prisoner of war and that his fate was uncertain. Forced to labor on German public works projects and later on German farms, Raymond, like his fellow POW's, became emaciated from extreme hunger and his health declined. Dysentery, infections, work injuries, and TB ravaged the men held by the Nazis in the dreaded stalags and Raymond Johnson was not immune. By the spring of 1945, near death, weighing only 98 pounds, suffering from dysentery and having lost all of his teeth because of malnutrition, Raymond and most of his comrades had survived almost 2\1/2\ years as prisoners of war, subjected to constant hardship and Gestapo interrogation. Prisoners were dying at the rate of three or four dead a day. Still, secure in his faith in both God and country, Raymond did not give up hope that he would be liberated and see his home and family again. Raymond's prayers would not go unanswered. As the Irish proverb goes, ``God is just but He takes His time.''
Almost as suddenly as he became a prisoner of war, events transpired that would change Raymond's life for the better. On Friday, April 13, 1945, Raymond's prayers were answered. The men of Nazi Stalag 3B heard thunder in the distance. In a state of panic, German guards began shooting some prisoners and locked the rest in their barracks as the thunder loomed nearer. That thunder soon was recognized as artillery fire. The artillery fire became the sounds of tanks in battle. The sounds of tank fire transformed into the sound of tank treads. The tank treads became so loud that the POW's huddled on the floor together fearing that the Germans would make good on their threat to kill them before they could be liberated. The commotion outside the barracks was so loud that many of the men later reported being almost deafened until the next sound that they heard was the barracks doors being thrown open and an American GI yelling, ``You're safe now, boys. We've come to take you home!'' A day that is feared by the superstitious of the world, Friday the 13th, thereafter became Raymond's special day for the rest of his life.
Although liberated, Raymond's life still weighed in the balance. At the fittingly named Camp Lucky, Raymond almost died from his state of malnutrition several times. After 3 harrowing weeks, medics finally approved Raymond to be placed aboard a hospital ship heading for America. Enroute, men continued to die and were buried at sea. Contemplating the hardships he had endured, Raymond feared that it would be both senseless and ironic if he should die at sea before seeing his family again. Raymond continued to pray that God would spare his life. Once again Raymond's prayers were answered.
This story would end here and would not be of note had it not been for one simple thing. A nation anxious to return to normal, eager to discharge veterans as quickly as they could be brought back home from the war in Europe and the Pacific, became a nation too busy to honor its heroes. Raymond Johnson never received the recognition that he deserved for serving his country with distinction and honor in both its saddest and finest moments.
Raymond Johnson eventually regained much of his health. However, doctors told him that he would never be the same after having suffered the fate of Nazi prison camps. Humbly, Raymond went on with his life, devout in his faith, and proud of his service to his country. Like most veterans, Raymond did not complain much. They were just thankful to be home with their families. In fact, Raymond Johnson lead a modest but happy life, barely speaking of his experiences in the Nazi stalags. Few people could have guessed what the war had been like for Raymond.
Unfortunately, Raymond left this life on October 20, 1981, after suffering from cancer. Today, Raymond Johnson is survived by his widow, Mildred Johnson of Fort Walton Beach, FL, who attends St. Mary's Catholic Church regularly and is active in the Legion of Mary. Raymond was fortunate to have seven children, four sons, Robert, a teacher in Fort Walton Beach, Dennis a postal worker, a Roman Catholic Priest, Kevin, and Thomas who works for the State of Florida, and three daughters, Sandra, Katherine, and Mary, as well as 10 grandchildren, including a namesake, Raymond. While it may be too late to honor Raymond Johnson personally, this Christmas season I am pleased to be able to present to his family the medals and awards that this hero has been owed for over 50 years--the Bronze Star Medal, the Prisoner of War Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the coveted Combat Infantryman's Badge. These decorations pale in comparison to the gift that Raymond gave his country but they are all that a humble nation can give to pay tribute to one of its heroes. I am pleased to know that the First Congressional District of Florida can boast of the merits of an American the likes of Raymond Johnson and his fine family. Mr. Speaker, we owe this man, and all of our Nation's veterans our most sincere thanks and gratitude.
____________________
