Richard Colwell Johnson (18, 19 June 1925 South St Paul, Minnesota), a resident of 122 6th Ave No., South St Paul, Dakota County, Minnesota signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. W-159, Order No. 12451) on 21 June 1943 in South St Paul, Dakota County, Minnesota. He was employed by F. C. Patterson. Richard listed his father, J. R. Johnson, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 6' 1" in height, 160 lbs., with a light complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.
He enlisted as a Private (S/N 37576871) in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion and served in the Hawaiian Islands, Marshall Islands and the Philippines. They were constructing a bridge just west of Dulag, Leyte. On 25 October 1944 a Japanese bomber scored a direct hit on a gasoline and ammunition supply dump which immediately set the surrounding area in flames. There was a terrific explosion and fire. At least 21 men from the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion were killed (see virtual cemetery for a list of the other men killed in the explosion). “Most of the remains recovered were badly mutilated and burned as a result of the explosion.” Another 17 men were killed and 28 missing from the 722nd Engineer Depot Company.
Private Richard Colwell Johnson was one of the men killed. Many of the bodies were described "KIA - shrapnel wounds, multiple, completely burned beyond recognition". His remains could not be positively identified. Only nine of the 21 men were identified. Those who could not be identified were buried in the USAF Cemetery #1, Dulag, Leyte, P.I. as "Unknowns". After the war the Unknown American Soldiers remains were disinterred and reburied in July 1945 in 7740 USAF Cemetery, Leyte #1, Palo, Leyte, Philippines Islands.
In May 1947, their remains (along with all the 8,568 American soldiers buried there) were disinterred from 7740 USAF Cemetery, Leyte #1 and brought to the American Graves Registration Service Mausoleum in Manila, P. I. Their remains were processed by the Central Identification Laboratory. Most of the Dulag unknowns were “badly burned.” No ROI, identification tags or personal effects were found the remains. “Fingerprints not obtainable because of badly burned condition of the bodies.”
1949 HEADQUARTERS AMERICAN GRAVES REGISTRATION SERVICE PHILCOM ZONE – The records pertaining to these unknowns from USAF Cemetery Leyte #1 have been reviewed and it is the opinion of this office that insufficient evidence is available to establish the identity of these deceased, and that these remains should be classified as unidentifiable.
So by administrative directive these Unknown American Soldiers were buried in their final resting place as “A COMRADE IN ARMS KNOWN BY TO GOD” in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery). Private Richard Colwell Johnson is most likely buried as one of those "Unknowns".
Private Richard Colwell Johnson is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
He also has a cenotaph next to his parents in Acacia Park Cemetery, Mendota Heights, Dakota County, Minnesota.
He enlisted as a Private (S/N 37576871) in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion and served in the Hawaiian Islands, Marshall Islands and the Philippines. They were constructing a bridge just west of Dulag, Leyte. On 25 October 1944 a Japanese bomber scored a direct hit on a gasoline and ammunition supply dump which immediately set the surrounding area in flames. There was a terrific explosion and fire. At least 21 men from the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion were killed (see virtual cemetery for a list of the other men killed in the explosion). “Most of the remains recovered were badly mutilated and burned as a result of the explosion.” Another 17 men were killed and 28 missing from the 722nd Engineer Depot Company.
Private Richard Colwell Johnson was one of the men killed. Many of the bodies were described "KIA - shrapnel wounds, multiple, completely burned beyond recognition". His remains could not be positively identified. Only nine of the 21 men were identified. Those who could not be identified were buried in the USAF Cemetery #1, Dulag, Leyte, P.I. as "Unknowns". After the war the Unknown American Soldiers remains were disinterred and reburied in July 1945 in 7740 USAF Cemetery, Leyte #1, Palo, Leyte, Philippines Islands.
In May 1947, their remains (along with all the 8,568 American soldiers buried there) were disinterred from 7740 USAF Cemetery, Leyte #1 and brought to the American Graves Registration Service Mausoleum in Manila, P. I. Their remains were processed by the Central Identification Laboratory. Most of the Dulag unknowns were “badly burned.” No ROI, identification tags or personal effects were found the remains. “Fingerprints not obtainable because of badly burned condition of the bodies.”
1949 HEADQUARTERS AMERICAN GRAVES REGISTRATION SERVICE PHILCOM ZONE – The records pertaining to these unknowns from USAF Cemetery Leyte #1 have been reviewed and it is the opinion of this office that insufficient evidence is available to establish the identity of these deceased, and that these remains should be classified as unidentifiable.
So by administrative directive these Unknown American Soldiers were buried in their final resting place as “A COMRADE IN ARMS KNOWN BY TO GOD” in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery). Private Richard Colwell Johnson is most likely buried as one of those "Unknowns".
Private Richard Colwell Johnson is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
He also has a cenotaph next to his parents in Acacia Park Cemetery, Mendota Heights, Dakota County, Minnesota.
Richard Colwell Johnson (18, 19 June 1925 South St Paul, Minnesota), a resident of 122 6th Ave No., South St Paul, Dakota County, Minnesota signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. W-159, Order No. 12451) on 21 June 1943 in South St Paul, Dakota County, Minnesota. He was employed by F. C. Patterson. Richard listed his father, J. R. Johnson, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 6' 1" in height, 160 lbs., with a light complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.
He enlisted as a Private (S/N 37576871) in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion and served in the Hawaiian Islands, Marshall Islands and the Philippines. They were constructing a bridge just west of Dulag, Leyte. On 25 October 1944 a Japanese bomber scored a direct hit on a gasoline and ammunition supply dump which immediately set the surrounding area in flames. There was a terrific explosion and fire. At least 21 men from the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion were killed (see virtual cemetery for a list of the other men killed in the explosion). “Most of the remains recovered were badly mutilated and burned as a result of the explosion.” Another 17 men were killed and 28 missing from the 722nd Engineer Depot Company.
Private Richard Colwell Johnson was one of the men killed. Many of the bodies were described "KIA - shrapnel wounds, multiple, completely burned beyond recognition". His remains could not be positively identified. Only nine of the 21 men were identified. Those who could not be identified were buried in the USAF Cemetery #1, Dulag, Leyte, P.I. as "Unknowns". After the war the Unknown American Soldiers remains were disinterred and reburied in July 1945 in 7740 USAF Cemetery, Leyte #1, Palo, Leyte, Philippines Islands.
In May 1947, their remains (along with all the 8,568 American soldiers buried there) were disinterred from 7740 USAF Cemetery, Leyte #1 and brought to the American Graves Registration Service Mausoleum in Manila, P. I. Their remains were processed by the Central Identification Laboratory. Most of the Dulag unknowns were “badly burned.” No ROI, identification tags or personal effects were found the remains. “Fingerprints not obtainable because of badly burned condition of the bodies.”
1949 HEADQUARTERS AMERICAN GRAVES REGISTRATION SERVICE PHILCOM ZONE – The records pertaining to these unknowns from USAF Cemetery Leyte #1 have been reviewed and it is the opinion of this office that insufficient evidence is available to establish the identity of these deceased, and that these remains should be classified as unidentifiable.
So by administrative directive these Unknown American Soldiers were buried in their final resting place as “A COMRADE IN ARMS KNOWN BY TO GOD” in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery). Private Richard Colwell Johnson is most likely buried as one of those "Unknowns".
Private Richard Colwell Johnson is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
He also has a cenotaph next to his parents in Acacia Park Cemetery, Mendota Heights, Dakota County, Minnesota.
He enlisted as a Private (S/N 37576871) in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion and served in the Hawaiian Islands, Marshall Islands and the Philippines. They were constructing a bridge just west of Dulag, Leyte. On 25 October 1944 a Japanese bomber scored a direct hit on a gasoline and ammunition supply dump which immediately set the surrounding area in flames. There was a terrific explosion and fire. At least 21 men from the 170th Engineer Combat Battalion were killed (see virtual cemetery for a list of the other men killed in the explosion). “Most of the remains recovered were badly mutilated and burned as a result of the explosion.” Another 17 men were killed and 28 missing from the 722nd Engineer Depot Company.
Private Richard Colwell Johnson was one of the men killed. Many of the bodies were described "KIA - shrapnel wounds, multiple, completely burned beyond recognition". His remains could not be positively identified. Only nine of the 21 men were identified. Those who could not be identified were buried in the USAF Cemetery #1, Dulag, Leyte, P.I. as "Unknowns". After the war the Unknown American Soldiers remains were disinterred and reburied in July 1945 in 7740 USAF Cemetery, Leyte #1, Palo, Leyte, Philippines Islands.
In May 1947, their remains (along with all the 8,568 American soldiers buried there) were disinterred from 7740 USAF Cemetery, Leyte #1 and brought to the American Graves Registration Service Mausoleum in Manila, P. I. Their remains were processed by the Central Identification Laboratory. Most of the Dulag unknowns were “badly burned.” No ROI, identification tags or personal effects were found the remains. “Fingerprints not obtainable because of badly burned condition of the bodies.”
1949 HEADQUARTERS AMERICAN GRAVES REGISTRATION SERVICE PHILCOM ZONE – The records pertaining to these unknowns from USAF Cemetery Leyte #1 have been reviewed and it is the opinion of this office that insufficient evidence is available to establish the identity of these deceased, and that these remains should be classified as unidentifiable.
So by administrative directive these Unknown American Soldiers were buried in their final resting place as “A COMRADE IN ARMS KNOWN BY TO GOD” in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery). Private Richard Colwell Johnson is most likely buried as one of those "Unknowns".
Private Richard Colwell Johnson is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
He also has a cenotaph next to his parents in Acacia Park Cemetery, Mendota Heights, Dakota County, Minnesota.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Minnesota.
Family Members
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