HISTORIC FACTS:  F1/C Jack Johnson was an original member of the crew of an Edsall Class Destroyer Escort USS Leopold, DE-319.  The mission of the USS Leopold was to escort convoys to Great Britain and the Mediterranean protecting the ships from German submarines and U-boats.  On March 9, 1944 the USS Leopold was on such a mission and came under attack by a German U-255.  The USS Leopold was the first destroyer escort to be sunk by the German U-255 torpedo, which was one of the German's new munitions and at that time not detectable.  After being struck by a torpedo late in the day on March 9th, the ship finally sank early the next morning in the stormy icy waters, 30 to 50 foot seas, south of Iceland on March 10, 1944.  171 sailors were killed with only 28 surviving the attack.   Unfortunately the US Navy, US Coast Guard or Department of Transportation did not recognize the USS Leopold and the men with a unit citation, who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  F1/C Johnson was killed in action during the attack and lost at sea.

COMMANDER ESCORT DIVISION 22
CDR KENNER...................CLASS 1925
CDR R.J. ROBERTS.........CLASS 1930
CDR L.M. THAYER..........CLASS 1933
LCDR V.H. BAKANAS.....CLASS 1937

USS POOLE DE 151
USS PETERSON DE 152
USS HARVESON DE 316
USS JOYCE DE 317
USS KIRKPATRICK DE 318
USS LEOPOLD(SUNK) DE 319 (MARCH 9 1944)