UUS_mss326.xml Guide to the Ernest Fred Johnson World War I papers 1918-1940 Johnson, (Ernest F.) World War I papers 1918-1940 Finding aid/Register created by Kelly Jones/Sara Skindelien Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives ©2011
Merrill-Cazier Library Utah State University 3000 Old Main Hill Logan, Utah 84322-3000 Business Number: 435 797-8248 Fax Number: 435 797-2880 scweb@usu.edu https://archives.usu.edu/
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-07-03. Finding aid encoded in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). 2009 Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines. Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Ernest Fred Johnson World War I papers UUS_COLL MSS 326 1 box .25 linear feet 1918-1940 This one-box collection consists primarily of correspondence sent to Ernest Johnson's mother, Sophia, after his death. Material in English

Processed in February of 2008.

The materials in this collection were donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by Harry Johnson, nephew of Ernest F. Johnson, on June 30, 2003.

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Ernest Fred Johnson World War I papers must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Initial Citation: Ernest Fred Johnson World War I papers USU_COLL MSS 326, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations: USU_COLL MSS 326, USUSCA.

Ernest Fred Johnson was born on December 15, 1892 in Randolph, Utah to John August Johnson and Sophia Anderson Johnson. Following the entry of the United States into World War I in 1917, Ernest Johnson was drafted into the army. He trained at Camp Lewis, Washington before being deployed to France in June 1918 where he served in Company I, 363rd Infantry of the 91st Army Division. On September 28, 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Ernest Johnson was killed in an explosion by an enemy shell casing fragment and buried in an American cemetery in France. Following the request of his mother, his body was returned to Randolph, Utah, where on August 21, 1919, he was given a soldier's burial.

This one-box collection consists primarily of correspondence sent to Ernest Johnson's mother Sophia after Ernest's death, including letters dealing with a life insurance policy set up for soldier's families, correspondence outlining the procedures for recovering a soldier's personal effects, and letters between Mrs. Johnson and the U.S. Army concerning the return of his remains from France to Utah. Folders 2-4 are the only folders that contain correspondence from Ernest Johnson. Folder 6 contains a detailed account from The American Red Cross on soldiers from various companies that served in the Argonne and Belgian offensives from September 26 through November 3, 1918. It provides a day-by-day account of the battles and lists the casualties from each battle. Folders 10, 11 and 14 contain letters that were sent to Mrs. Johnson from people who had known Ernest during his service in the army.

Arranged in chronological order.

 Correspondence Military War Department Local Board correspondence 1918 January 4 - 1918 April 30 1 1 Correspondence from Ernest to brother 1918 June 1 2 Card to mother notifying of Ernest's arrival overseas undated 1 3 Mother's Day cards undated 1 4 "The Soldier's Spirit" soldier handbook from the YMCA undated 1 5 The American Red Cross report on death 1918 November 28 1 6 Brief account of 91st Division in France written by Colin V. Dyment Lt. A.R.C. Dates 1918 July 20 - 1918 November 11 1 7 Newspaper clipping on Ernest Johnson's funeral service undated 1 8 Letters of condolences to Mrs. Johnson from The American Red Cross and The Secretary of Interior's office undated 1 9 Newspaper clipping of a letter that a fellow soldier wrote concerning Ernest's death undated 1 10 Letter to Mrs. Johnson from Chaplain of 363rd 1919 January 1 1 11 Correspondence regarding grave in France. Includes photograph of grave undated 1 12 Correspondence regarding Ernest's personal effects 1919 April and July 1 13 Letter to mother from Rev. A. H. Fish, pastor of Camp Meritt undated 1 14 U.S. Army certificate of death 1919 January 22 1 15 The American Red Cross death reports for the 91st Division 1918 September 26 - November 3 1 16 Correspondence to Mrs. Johnson pertaining to funeral expenses undated 1 17 Letter to Mrs. Johnson from The American Legion of Kemmerer, Wyoming in regards to headstone 1928 February 26 1 18 Insurance and compensation forms and correspondence 1918 May 9 - 1940 March 1 1 19 Miscellaneous blank World War I post cards undated 1 20 Memorial card order forms undated 1 21 Religious tracts and leaflets undated 1 22 Cross necklace and sash with embroidered star undated 1 23 Newspaper clipping announcing other local boys' drafts undated 1 24 Correspondence pertaining to the return of Ernest's body from France to train station in Wyoming undated 1 25