Medal of Honor recipient honored at Nine Partners Cemetery

MILLBROOK — Local and county officials, a military honor guard, friends and family gathered at Nine Partners Cemetery near the grave of Korean War Veteran Army PFC Charles Johnson on Thursday, May 29. The well-attended ceremony was to honor Johnson’s bravery and sacrifice in battle and to dedicate a permanent plaque and flag markers indicating that Johnson’s valor had earned the Medal of Honor.

In December 2024, Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, officially presented at a White House ceremony on Friday, January 3, 2025, by President Joseph R. Biden.

Introductory remarks at the May 29 ceremony by Adam Roche, Director of the Dutchess County Office of Veterans Affairs honored Johnson, describing him as a “true American hero,” killed in battle at the age of 21, at Outpost Harry in Korea. Johnson’s heroic actions saved the lives of ten of his fellow infantrymen, including his captain.

An opening prayer by Deacon Duane Ware of Beulah Baptist Church spoke of Johnson’s legacy of patriotism, loyalty and brotherhood.

Participating in an official ceremony to honor the valorous service of Army PFC Charles R. Johnson during the Korean War and to dedicate a gravesite marker at Nine Partners Cemetery attesting that PFC Johnson was a recipient of the Medal of Honor were left to right County Executive Sue Serino, PFC Johnson’s nephew Kevin Johnson holding an official Proclamation presented during the ceremony, and Adam Roche, Director of the Office of Dutchess County’s Office of Veterans Affairs.Photo by Leila Hawken

The Rev. Dr. Matthew Calkins of Grace Episcopal Church, Millbrook, noted that the Johnson family had been members of the Millbrook church in the 1950s and that the church had attended to burial of Johnson’s remains in September 1953 at Nine Partners.

Drawings of three new stained glass window panels to be created and installed at Grace Church in the coming months were displayed and described by Rev. Calkins. One panel will honor Johnson’s memory, a second will honor Eleanor Roosevelt, and the third, in the middle, will depict Julian of Norwich, whose influential writings in the Middle Ages are the oldest discoveries of such writings to have been authored by a woman.

Vice Commander Dave Rogers of VFW Post 9008, Millbrook, announced that the VFW post is being renamed to honor Johnson. It will now be known as Charles R. Johnson Post 9008. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Johnson had been awarded the Purple Heart, the nation’s oldest medal, originally established by George Washington. Accordingly, Johnson’s grave will be adorned by a Purple Heart flag.

To mark Johnson’s gravesite, a flagpole has been erected at the cemetery by the Dutchess County Dept. of Public Works.

“We will always honor this grave,” said Brad Roeller, President of the Nine Partners Cemetery Association. He spoke of Johnson’s connections to Millbrook as “a rich story that will never be forgotten.”

“We thank you for recognizing Uncle Buddy,” said Johnson’s nephew, Kevin Johnson, on behalf of the Johnson family.

“For too long, Charles’ actions went unrecognized,” said Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino, citing Johnson’s courage and sacrifice that left a legacy. “His spirit and courage live on to inspire,” she added, praising the tireless efforts of many who pursued posthumous recognition for PFC Johnson’s bravery, to upgrade the Silver Star that had been awarded in 2011 to the Medal of Honor, a long campaign spanning decades.

In 2024, Congressman Pat Ryan joined in the effort by supporting the 20 years of regional efforts toward recognition.

A proclamation marking the long-awaited recognition was presented by Serino to Kevin Johnson.

“Charlie was older than I, but he was a friend of my brother’s,” said speaker Dominick Molella. “He was open and upbeat,” he added.

“He died for the soldiers he protected; his contributions and valor were ignored.” Molella said that his own involvement in the effort toward proper recognition began in early 2000, and he credited the Arlington High School for propelling the recognition campaign forward.