Johnson, Gordon Earle
Title
Johnson, Gordon Earle
Last Name
Johnson
First and Middle Name
Gordon Earle
Biographical Text
Gordon Earle Johnson was born in Roanoke, Virginia on February 3rd, 1896 to Marcellus A. Johnson and Katherine Arthur. Johnson attended VPI from 1913-1917 and majored in Electrical engineering. Johnson enjoyed playing piano and was even revered by The Bugle as "the best piano player that ever-attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute." In the war, Johnson served in the Signal Corps. After the war, Johnson worked as an electrician and married Louise Wright Johnson. He died in 1976 of prostate cancer in Salem, Virginia.
Nicknames or Other Names
"Kinks"
Hometown
Roanoke, VA
County and/or State
Virginia
Birth Date
2/3/1896
Birthplace
Roanoke, VA
Death Date
6/18/1896
Cause of Death
Prostate Cancer "with Metastasis"
Place of Death
Salem, VA
Parents
Marcellus A. Johnson and Katherine Arthur
Siblings
Lewis A. Johnson
Marcellus A. Johnson Jr.
Hellen G. Johnson
Paul S. Johnson
John H. Saunders (step brother)
Marcellus A. Johnson Jr.
Hellen G. Johnson
Paul S. Johnson
John H. Saunders (step brother)
Spouse(s)
Louise Wright Johnson
VPI Graduating Class
1917
Undergraduate Major
Electrical Engineering
Graduated
Yes
Service Branch
Signal Corps
Unit
Aviation
Rank
First Lieutenant
Retired Rank
N/a
Military Events
Noted in The Virginia Tech, as being a student aviator at Call Field in Wichitall Falls, Texas as of 31 January 1918.
Enlised as an aviator in the army in July 1917 and was sent to Georgia after 3 months to the aviation field at Witchita Falls, Texas. While there he was comissioned as a second lieutenant and went overseas. While flying over the lines of October 22, 1918 his plan was disabled and in the fall to the earth his foot was crushed and he was badly injured. He was reported dead but taken to a French hospital and remained there recovering for ten months until he could return home.
He continued after the war in the Aviation Corps.
Enlised as an aviator in the army in July 1917 and was sent to Georgia after 3 months to the aviation field at Witchita Falls, Texas. While there he was comissioned as a second lieutenant and went overseas. While flying over the lines of October 22, 1918 his plan was disabled and in the fall to the earth his foot was crushed and he was badly injured. He was reported dead but taken to a French hospital and remained there recovering for ten months until he could return home.
He continued after the war in the Aviation Corps.
Postwar Life
1920: electrician in coal mine; Somerset PA
Made several trips to Miami
Made several trips to Miami
Occupation
Electrician
1927 "Virginia Polytehnic Institute in the World War" booklet
Yes; 136
Additional Notes
Played piano. The Bugle called him “the best piano player that ever-attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute”
Find a grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/128344828#
Find a grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/128344828#
Contributing Researchers
Elizabeth Sholtis
Bibliography
- Lieutenant Gordon Earle Johnson Injured in Fall, 5 Decemer 1918, The Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, pg. 6.
- Gordon Earle Johnson can also be found on our sister site, Roanoke Valley in the Great War: roanokevalleygreatwar.vtlibraries.org/items/show/1519
Files
Collection
Citation
“Johnson, Gordon Earle,” VPI in World War I, accessed May 11, 2024, http://vpiworldwarone.lib.vt.edu/items/show/128.
Comments (if you have information about a veteran or would like to talk about a veteran, also email the project director Daniel Newcomb at danieln1@vt.edu with your information or question)
Richard Gordon Johnson
I am the Grandson of Gordon Earl Johnson of Roanoke, Virginia, and lived with him as a teen-ager. I have his VPI music, and football helmet, and a wealth of information about him and his issue.
How can I be of help to you?
Richard Gordon Johnson, Esq., JD - Pittsburgh
Reply
Daniel Newcomb
Richard, thank you for reaching out! I would love to put anything you have on your grandfather on our website with your permission. If you can, please e-mail me (Daniel Newcomb) at danieln1@vt.edu and we can discuss further!
Reply