Shoshana Johnson

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Shoshana Nyree Johnson
born 1973
Allegiance U.S. Army
Years of service 1998-2003
Rank SPC
Unit 5th Battalion 52d Air Defense Artillery
Battles/wars Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards Bronze Star
Purple Heart
SPC Shoshana Johnson receives a hug after landing in Kuwait City.
SPC Shoshana Johnson receives a hug after landing in Kuwait City.

Shoshana Nyree Johnson (born 1971) was the first black female prisoner of war in the military history of the United States. Johnson was a Specialist of the U.S. Army 507th Maintenance Company, 5/52 ADA BN, 11th ADA Brigade. During gun fight that lead to her capture she suffered bullet wounds to both of her ankles. She was freed in a rescue mission conducted by U.S. Marines on April 13, 2003. She was held prisoner in Iraq for 22 days after along with four other members of her unit including:

  • Spc. Edgar Hernandez
  • Spc. Joseph Hudson
  • Private First Class Patrick Miller
  • Sgt. James Riley - 31-year-old bachelor from Pennsauken, N.J. As the senior soldier present it was he who ordered the surrender.
  • Jessica Lynch - Part of same 507 unit but held separately in a different location

Contents

[edit] Biography

Johnson, a second-generation U.S. Army Veteran, is a native of Panama, and moved to the United States with her family when she was a child. The eldest child of retired Army Sergeant First Class Claude Johnson and wife Eunice. Shoshana Johnson was in the ROTC at Andress High School, although she did not plan a career in the military. She was a JROTC cadet in 1991 and joined the U.S. Army in September 1998 while attending classes at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). She has a sister, Nikki Johnson.

In February 2003, while serving her second military assignment at Fort Bliss, Texas, Johnson received orders to deploy to Iraq and carry through her duties as a Quartermaster Corps Food Service Specialist (MOS 92G) with the 507th Maintenance Company, 5/52 ADA BN, 11th ADA Brigade. Shoshana enlisted with the duty of preparing meals. She says that she had no intention of going into combat. Her company's duty was to supply mechanics to repair the Patriot missile trucks housed at the post.

On March 23, 2003, one month after her arrival to serve as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Johnson was in a convoy that was ambushed and taken captive in the city of Nasiriyah. Iraqi troops ambushed her supply convoy when it took a wrong turn. There had been bitter fighting around Nasiriyah, a vital crossing point of the River Euphrates. Johnson was among a dozen soldiers in the convoy who was captured. She received a bullet wound to her ankle, causing injuries to both legs.

Janelle, Shoshana's two-year old daughter, was taken care of by her grandparents, while Shoshana was on duty in Iraq. Claude learned of his daughter's fate while flipping through the channels, to find a cartoon for his grand-daughter. Telemundo was broadcasting Al Jazeera footage of the POWs being interviewed by an off camera reporter for the Middle Eastern network. This capture was later confirmed, when the couple was summoned to Fort Bliss.

In April 13, 2003, after subsequent house raids conducted by U.S. Marines of the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division in the city of Samarra, Johnson was rescued along with six other prisoners of war. They were welcomed as heroes in the United States on April 16 with a cheering crowd of over 3,000 people. The U.S. Army recognized them for courage, valor, and service with several awards.

In December 12, 2003, Johnson left the U.S. Army on a Temporary Disability Honorable Discharge. Johnson was awarded the the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal for her service in Iraq and has received numerous awards and recognition for her courage, valor, and service to the United States. She has presented talks throughout the nation about her experience as a prisoner of war, and has been recognized with standing ovations from small groups to over 65,000 people at select events hosted by public and private organizations.

Johnson currently resides in El Paso, Texas with her daughter Janelle.

[edit] Controversy

Critics have accused the military and media of racism in that they focused attention on Jessica Lynch, a Caucasian blonde, rather than Johnson, a Black woman. Johnson received a 30% disability pension from the Army, while Lynch received an 80% disability, which resulted in a $600 to $700 difference in their monthly payments.[1] CNN reported that "Some said it was an issue of race, but Johnson wasn't one of them."[2]

[edit] Book deal

Johnson signed a book deal with Dafina Books to write her story with Paul T. Brown, titled One Wrong Turn, which will tell her side of the story and tell more about some of her fallen comrades.[3]

Johnson said she also wants to give credit to the Marines who found her and her fellow soldiers.
"They never got the credit they deserved for what they did," Johnson said.

[edit] Military awards and decorations

[edit] Quotations

  • "Just stay strong. Keep your dignity. Try not to let them break you." - Advice to then-POW Shoshana Johnson from her sister Nikki
  • "She always had an angel following her around. She always manages to get out of stuff. Hopefully her angel is still with her." - Nikki Johnson on her then-POW sister, Shoshana's good luck.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../s/h/o/Shoshana_Johnson_aea1.html"