Ellsworth Johnson

Ellsworth "Al" Johnson (5 July 1923 – 30 September 2023) was an American World War II veteran who served in the Operational Group Command branch of the Office of Strategic Services. He is believed to be the oldest known member of the OSS.

Biography Early life Ellsworth Johnson was born in an army hospital in Ohio to John and Marie Johnson. He is of Swedish and Dutch descent. He was educated at Central High School in Grand Rapids in 1942 and was drafted into the U.S. military in 1943. left Career in the military Although Johnson was originally trained as a medic, he didn't like the role of being a "bedpan jockey", so he volunteered for the OSS and was shipped to train in North Africa.

In August 1944, Johnson, alongside his 25-man team codenamed "Patrick", parachuted behind German enemy lines. They successfully captured a hydroelectric plant and a dam located near Eguzon with the help of the French Resistance inside German-occupied territory. They failed to take over the town, but the opposition took major casualties.