James A. Johnson

James Allen Johnson (June 2, 1924 – July 20, 2016) was a major general in the United States Army who served as Commandant of the U.S. Army Engineer School at Fort Belvoir, and as Deputy Chief of Engineers. He was awarded two Distinguished Service Medals, the Silver Star, two Legion of Merit decorations, two Bronze Star Medals, two Purple Hearts, the Air Medal, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and the Parachute Badge.

Born in Stoughton, Wisconsin to Norwegian immigrant parents, Johnson graduated from Stoughton High School in 1942. After studying at the University of Wisconsin for one semester, he was drafted into the Army on March 12, 1943, during World War II. Johnson was appointed to the United States Military Academy and graduated with a B.S. degree after three years of study on June 3, 1947. After serving as a combat engineer in Korea, he earned an M.S. degree in industrial engineering from Stanford University in 1957. Johnson later graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College in 1961 and, after a tour of duty in Vietnam, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1966. His second tour of duty in Vietnam was as commanding general of the U.S. Army Engineer Command and Director of Construction for the Military Assistance Command.

Johnson retired from active duty in August 1980 and settled in Fairfax Station, Virginia. He died at Fort Belvoir and was buried in the West Point Cemetery on September 26, 2016.