Medal of Honor awarded posthumously to local Korean War hero

Following years of local and regional efforts, Pfc. Charles R. Johnson of Millbrook was posthumously recognized for valor, receiving the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony on Friday, Jan. 3. The medal was one of seven presented by President Joseph Biden.

Of the seven medals awarded, five were posthumously awarded to Korean War casualties and the remaining two honored Vietnam veterans, one of whom had perished in battle.

The third of six children, Johnson was born Aug. 11, 1932, in Millbrook to Robert and Pearl Johnson. He excelled in athletics and was a gifted musician. He attended Millbrook High School for three years before transferring to Arlington High School in Poughkeepsie, where he was co-captain of the football team and won election as class vice-president.

Johnson attended Howard University briefly before being drafted in 1952 into the U.S. Army, assigned to Company B, 3^rd Infantry. He was killed in June, 1953 demonstrating extraordinary bravery, although mortally wounded himself, to save the lives of ten of his fellow infantrymen..

More than 70 years later, and efforts in recent years to upgrade Johnson’s Silver Star to the Medal of Honor, Johnson’s valor was officially recognized at The White House, where the medal was accepted by Johnson’s sister, Juanita.

Commentary provided after the ceremony by U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan described the process that resulted in the awarding of the Medal of Honor to Johnson.

In May of 2024, Congressman Ryan continued ongoing regional efforts to upgrade the Silver Star that had been awarded in 2011 to the Medal of Honor by calling on President Biden to approve the change.

Ryan’s action capped 20 years of efforts by Johnson’s family, friends, Arlington High School administrators and schoolmates, along with the men whose lives he saved to honor his bravery and sacrifice.

Among the wide-reaching efforts was an exhaustive study of Johnson and his story conducted by Arlington Middle School students who presented their research at Memorial Day ceremonies in Poughkeepsie in 2001.

In 2010, Arlington High School dedicated Johnson Hall and the Wall of Remembrance, honoring former students who perished while serving in the military. During that dedication ceremony, a statue was presented depicting Johnson’s bravery in battle, citing seven traits of character that helped to define Johnson: loyalty, selflessness, courage, compassion, responsibility, patriotism, and integrity.

Johnson is buried in Millbrook at Nine Partners Cemetery on Church Street.