Chandler W. Johnson

Chandler Wilce Johnson (October 8, 1905 – March 2, 1945) was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps lieutenant colonel. He served as the commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines during the battle of Iwo Jima, leading his battalion in capturing Mount Suribachi which later led to the flag being raised over Iwo Jima. He was killed in action one week after the flag raising and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

Early life and career Chandler W. Johnson was born on October 8, 1905, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. "Chaney” always wanted to be a Marine. He graduated from high school at age 16 and immediately enlisted. He went to Parris Island for basic and then to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as a cook's assistant. When his mother finally tracked him down, in Santo Domingo, she got him into the Naval Academy (after 2 years of prep school).

In 1929, Johnson graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps and attended training at the Marine Barracks in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then attended further training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, and then at the Marine Barracks at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Virginia.

In April 1931, Johnson deployed to Nicaragua during the Banana Wars, remaining there until the end of 1932. From early 1933 to mid 1934, he was stationed at the Marine Barracks in Boston, Massachusetts.

In 1934 he married Miriam Vane in Philadelphia. They were then stationed in Quantico, VA. Johnson then attended courses at the Marine Barracks Quantico, Virginia, before he was briefly stationed at the Marine Barracks in Mare Island Navy Yard, California.

In late June and early July 1942, the 3rd Defense Battalion conducted several amphibious landing exercises in Hawaii. On August 7, Johnson landed with his battalion in support of the 1st Marine Division at Guadalcanal. The 3rd Defense Battalion left Guadalcanal for New Zealand on February 9, 1943. Johnson was awarded the Legion of Merit for his service during the Guadalcanal campaign.

Johnson later took part in the Bougainville campaign with the 3rd Defense Battalion from November 1943 until June 1944. The 3rd Defense Battalion was deactivated shortly afterwards,

On February 20, as Lieutenant Colonel Johnson ordered his Marines to advance toward Mount Suribachi, he said "It’s going to be a hell of a day in a hell of a place to fight the damned war!" and Harold Keller raised the second flag. The second flag raising was captured in the famous photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal. The first flag was brought back down Suribachi and returned to Lieutenant Colonel Johnson, who promptly placed it in the battalion safe.

Death Lieutenant Colonel Johnson continued to lead 2/28 in the battle after the flag raising, advancing to the northeast end of the island. By March 2, the battalion was fighting over rugged terrain north of Hill 362A, in which the Japanese had constructed well-fortified positions. The lead companies sustained heavy casualties and were pinned down, and Johnson moved to the front line in order to reorganize his battalion to continue the assault. As Johnson was moving from one company to another, he was killed instantly by an exploding mortar round.

Chandler W. Johnson was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the battle. His remains were interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Portrayal in film Johnson is featured in the 2006 movie Flags of Our Fathers. In the movie, Johnson is played by American actor Robert Patrick. The movie is based on the 2000 book of the same title.