Gordon Johnston (soldier)

Gordon Johnston (May 25, 1874 – March 8, 1934) was an American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient and football player and coach. He played at the tackle position for Princeton University and served as the head coach of the University of North Carolina football team in 1896. He served as an officer in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War, the Philippine–American War and World War I, and received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Philippine–American War.

Gordon Johnston
Gordon Johnston, Medal of Honor recipient
Born(1874-05-25)May 25, 1874
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
DiedMarch 8, 1934(1934-03-08) (aged 59)
Fort Sam Houston, Texas, U.S.
Place of burial
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1898–1934
RankColonel
Unit6th Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars
Awards
Gordon Johnston
Playing career
1894–1895Princeton
Position(s)Tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1896North Carolina
Head coaching record
Overall3–4–1

Biography
Gordon Johnston hurdling in a horse show (1911)
Major General Charles P. Summerall (center) along with members of his staff and senior commanders in his V Corps, pictured here in 1918 or 1919. Colonel Gordon Johnston, chief of staff of the 82nd Division, is stood on the far left.

Gordon Johnston was the son of Confederate General Robert Daniel Johnston, and was born in "the old home" near Birmingham, Alabama.[1] After graduating from Birmingham High School, Johnston enrolled at Princeton University in New Jersey. While attending the university, Johnston played college football as a tackle for two years in 1894 and 1895.[1] Football historian Parke H. Davis described Johnston as a "high spirited, fleetfooted, dashing" football player at Princeton.[2] Johnston became a member of The Tiger Inn. He graduated from Princeton in 1896 and became the head football coach of the University of North Carolina football team in 1896.[1]

In 1896, he also worked in the insurance business as a member of the Johnston & Badham firm in North Carolina.[3] From 1897 to 1898, he was associated with the Buck Johnston Abstract Co. in Memphis, Tennessee.[3]

In 1898, Johnston enlisted in the United States Army to fight in the Spanish–American War, serving in Cuba with the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, better known as the Rough Riders. After a brief return to civilian life, he was offered a commission as a second lieutenant in the Army in 1899 on the recommendation of Theodore Roosevelt.

Johnston was posted to the Philippines where he served with the 43rd Infantry Regiment in the Philippine–American War. On February 1, 1900 Johnston's actions as the leader of a small detachment of scouts was to earn him the nation's second highest award for bravery, the Distinguished Service Cross. The citation states: "... Lieutenant Johnston displayed remarkable gallantry and leadership in charging a greatly superior force of entrenched insurgents in the face of cannon and rifle fire, driving the enemy from their position and capturing the town of Palo."

Johnston returned to the United States, where he was the honor graduate in 1903 from the U.S. Army's infantry and cavalry school. In 1904, he was married to Anna Julia Johnson in Baltimore, Maryland.[3]

Johnston returned to the Philippines as a first lieutenant in the Signal Corps with the 6th Infantry Regiment. On March 7, 1906, Johnston distinguished himself under heavy fire in the First Battle of Bud Dajo, where he was severely wounded. For his actions in this battle, Johnson received the Medal of Honor.

Johnston went on to lead a distinguished career in the Army. Johnston was to win the Distinguished Service Medal for his work as the chief of staff for the 82nd Infantry Division during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of World War I. Johnston died in a polo accident at Fort Sam Houston on March 8, 1934.[4][5]

He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.[6] Camp Gordon Johnston in Carrabelle, Florida was named in his honor.[7]

Medal of Honor citation

Citation:

Voluntarily took part in and was dangerously wounded during an assault on the enemy's works.

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
North Carolina Tar Heels (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1896)
1896 North Carolina 3–4–10–1T–14th
North Carolina: 3–4–10–1
Total:3–4–1

See also

References
  1. A history of Princeton '96 to the time of the decennial reunion of the class. 1906. pp. 54–55 and 206. Retrieved October 5, 2010.
  2. Spalding's Official Football Guide for 1934, p. 224
  3. A history of Princeton '96 to the time of the decennial reunion of the class, p. 206
  4. "Col. Johnston Dies of Injury at Polo" (PDF, fee required). The New York Times. March 9, 1934. p. 19. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
  5. Powell, William S. (1988). Dictionary of North Carolina Biography. Vol. 3. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press. p. 302. ISBN 978-0-8078-1806-0.
  6. "Burial Detail: Johnston, Gordon (Section 7, Grave 10092)". ANC Explorer. Arlington National Cemetery. (Official website).
  7. Casey, Hugh J. (1959). Engineers of the Southwest Pacific, 1941–45. Vol. 4. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 28.
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