Murray Dean Johnson was born on January 28, 1931, in Kemp, Oklahoma (Bryan County), son of Ruben George Johnson and Catherine Hedgecock. He grew up in Kemp, and then in Durant, Oklahoma, where he lived until he went into the service.
He was inducted into the Army in Dallas, Texas on July 11, 1950, and sent to Ft Ord, California for 8 weeks of basic training. From there, he went to Ft Sill, Oklahoma, where he completed Artillery School and learned how to fire the 105 mm howitzer which was used in South Korea against North Korean invaders. But Ft Sill needed a cook, so he started cooking and became a full-time cook. He made Private First Class while at Ft Sill, and was sent to an Army base in Seattle, Washington for overseas staging. He was among 1500 Army men put on a troop ship in Seattle, bound for Japan. When they arrived in Tokyo, they traveled by troop train to Mt Fuji where they received weapons training. He subsequently boarded a troop ship to South Korea. When he arrived, he became a machine gunner and was sent to an outpost in no man's land where he stayed for most of his tour. Other soldiers called Murray "Mule" Johnson because he carried a machine gun on his shoulder, all his belongings in a pack on his back, plus a box of ammunition for his machine gun. In addition, he always carried other people's gear if their load got too heavy. Serving in Korea in active ground combat earned Murray a Combat Infantry Badge, which made him very proud. Murray next went to Kojedo Island, the second largest island in South Korea, which housed a sizeable POW camp. He stayed there a couple of months and then went to Hokkaido, Japan, where he cooked for a couple of years in the 7th Cavalry. He returned to Ft Chaffee, Arkansas in the last part of 1953 for about 20 days awaiting assignment, and then received an assignment to Ft Hood, Texas. After a 30-day leave, he cooked at Ft Hood, Texas until his discharge on May 11, 1954. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Army of Occupation of Japan Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, the United Nations Korean Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
After being discharged, Murray went to Kansas City, Kansas and got a job with Goodyear Tire Company recapping tires. He moved on to Denver after awhile and got a job with Firestone recapping tires. Eventually he moved to Oklahoma City and got a job with Dunlap recapping tires. In 1958, Murray wanted to find a wife, so he went to the Bible Missionary Church in Bethany, Oklahoma, looked around and saw several single women, but only one who caught his eye. Her name was Lina and she was attending the Nazarene college in Bethany. After a whirlwind courtship, Murray married Lina Pauline Yakle, on September 2, 1958 in Durant, Oklahoma. She was born on February 19, 1935, in Herrington, Kansas, the daughter of Glen Henry Yakle and Thelma Marie Gutsch. Murray and Lina had four children. Murray Dean Johnson, Jr., born July 26, 1959; Paul William (Billy) Johnson, born December 18,1960; Deborah Ann Johnson, born December 28, 1962; and Nedra Ann Johnson, born June 5, 1968. Murray worked for Gould National Battery in warehouse and production for 35 years and also ran a ranch for 17 years. He retired from both when he started experiencing medical problems.
Murray died at the age of 77 on May 10, 2008, in Gunter, Texas (Grayson County), and was buried there in the Whitaker Cemetery. He and Lina were only about four months away from celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Lina died eight months after Murray, on January 17, 2009, in Sherman, Texas, and was buried beside her husband. Murray and Lina were survived by their four children, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Murray and Lina were devout members of the Nazarene faith who raised their children in a home with strong Christian values. Murray and Lina's kind and gentle spirits will not soon be forgotten.
Photos and biographical information from book entitled Hedgecock and Stowe Family History, published June 2005, Copyright©Nancy Ladd. All rights reserved
He was inducted into the Army in Dallas, Texas on July 11, 1950, and sent to Ft Ord, California for 8 weeks of basic training. From there, he went to Ft Sill, Oklahoma, where he completed Artillery School and learned how to fire the 105 mm howitzer which was used in South Korea against North Korean invaders. But Ft Sill needed a cook, so he started cooking and became a full-time cook. He made Private First Class while at Ft Sill, and was sent to an Army base in Seattle, Washington for overseas staging. He was among 1500 Army men put on a troop ship in Seattle, bound for Japan. When they arrived in Tokyo, they traveled by troop train to Mt Fuji where they received weapons training. He subsequently boarded a troop ship to South Korea. When he arrived, he became a machine gunner and was sent to an outpost in no man's land where he stayed for most of his tour. Other soldiers called Murray "Mule" Johnson because he carried a machine gun on his shoulder, all his belongings in a pack on his back, plus a box of ammunition for his machine gun. In addition, he always carried other people's gear if their load got too heavy. Serving in Korea in active ground combat earned Murray a Combat Infantry Badge, which made him very proud. Murray next went to Kojedo Island, the second largest island in South Korea, which housed a sizeable POW camp. He stayed there a couple of months and then went to Hokkaido, Japan, where he cooked for a couple of years in the 7th Cavalry. He returned to Ft Chaffee, Arkansas in the last part of 1953 for about 20 days awaiting assignment, and then received an assignment to Ft Hood, Texas. After a 30-day leave, he cooked at Ft Hood, Texas until his discharge on May 11, 1954. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Army of Occupation of Japan Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, the United Nations Korean Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
After being discharged, Murray went to Kansas City, Kansas and got a job with Goodyear Tire Company recapping tires. He moved on to Denver after awhile and got a job with Firestone recapping tires. Eventually he moved to Oklahoma City and got a job with Dunlap recapping tires. In 1958, Murray wanted to find a wife, so he went to the Bible Missionary Church in Bethany, Oklahoma, looked around and saw several single women, but only one who caught his eye. Her name was Lina and she was attending the Nazarene college in Bethany. After a whirlwind courtship, Murray married Lina Pauline Yakle, on September 2, 1958 in Durant, Oklahoma. She was born on February 19, 1935, in Herrington, Kansas, the daughter of Glen Henry Yakle and Thelma Marie Gutsch. Murray and Lina had four children. Murray Dean Johnson, Jr., born July 26, 1959; Paul William (Billy) Johnson, born December 18,1960; Deborah Ann Johnson, born December 28, 1962; and Nedra Ann Johnson, born June 5, 1968. Murray worked for Gould National Battery in warehouse and production for 35 years and also ran a ranch for 17 years. He retired from both when he started experiencing medical problems.
Murray died at the age of 77 on May 10, 2008, in Gunter, Texas (Grayson County), and was buried there in the Whitaker Cemetery. He and Lina were only about four months away from celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Lina died eight months after Murray, on January 17, 2009, in Sherman, Texas, and was buried beside her husband. Murray and Lina were survived by their four children, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Murray and Lina were devout members of the Nazarene faith who raised their children in a home with strong Christian values. Murray and Lina's kind and gentle spirits will not soon be forgotten.
Photos and biographical information from book entitled Hedgecock and Stowe Family History, published June 2005, Copyright©Nancy Ladd. All rights reserved
Murray Dean Johnson was born on January 28, 1931, in Kemp, Oklahoma (Bryan County), son of Ruben George Johnson and Catherine Hedgecock. He grew up in Kemp, and then in Durant, Oklahoma, where he lived until he went into the service.
He was inducted into the Army in Dallas, Texas on July 11, 1950, and sent to Ft Ord, California for 8 weeks of basic training. From there, he went to Ft Sill, Oklahoma, where he completed Artillery School and learned how to fire the 105 mm howitzer which was used in South Korea against North Korean invaders. But Ft Sill needed a cook, so he started cooking and became a full-time cook. He made Private First Class while at Ft Sill, and was sent to an Army base in Seattle, Washington for overseas staging. He was among 1500 Army men put on a troop ship in Seattle, bound for Japan. When they arrived in Tokyo, they traveled by troop train to Mt Fuji where they received weapons training. He subsequently boarded a troop ship to South Korea. When he arrived, he became a machine gunner and was sent to an outpost in no man's land where he stayed for most of his tour. Other soldiers called Murray "Mule" Johnson because he carried a machine gun on his shoulder, all his belongings in a pack on his back, plus a box of ammunition for his machine gun. In addition, he always carried other people's gear if their load got too heavy. Serving in Korea in active ground combat earned Murray a Combat Infantry Badge, which made him very proud. Murray next went to Kojedo Island, the second largest island in South Korea, which housed a sizeable POW camp. He stayed there a couple of months and then went to Hokkaido, Japan, where he cooked for a couple of years in the 7th Cavalry. He returned to Ft Chaffee, Arkansas in the last part of 1953 for about 20 days awaiting assignment, and then received an assignment to Ft Hood, Texas. After a 30-day leave, he cooked at Ft Hood, Texas until his discharge on May 11, 1954. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Army of Occupation of Japan Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, the United Nations Korean Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
After being discharged, Murray went to Kansas City, Kansas and got a job with Goodyear Tire Company recapping tires. He moved on to Denver after awhile and got a job with Firestone recapping tires. Eventually he moved to Oklahoma City and got a job with Dunlap recapping tires. In 1958, Murray wanted to find a wife, so he went to the Bible Missionary Church in Bethany, Oklahoma, looked around and saw several single women, but only one who caught his eye. Her name was Lina and she was attending the Nazarene college in Bethany. After a whirlwind courtship, Murray married Lina Pauline Yakle, on September 2, 1958 in Durant, Oklahoma. She was born on February 19, 1935, in Herrington, Kansas, the daughter of Glen Henry Yakle and Thelma Marie Gutsch. Murray and Lina had four children. Murray Dean Johnson, Jr., born July 26, 1959; Paul William (Billy) Johnson, born December 18,1960; Deborah Ann Johnson, born December 28, 1962; and Nedra Ann Johnson, born June 5, 1968. Murray worked for Gould National Battery in warehouse and production for 35 years and also ran a ranch for 17 years. He retired from both when he started experiencing medical problems.
Murray died at the age of 77 on May 10, 2008, in Gunter, Texas (Grayson County), and was buried there in the Whitaker Cemetery. He and Lina were only about four months away from celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Lina died eight months after Murray, on January 17, 2009, in Sherman, Texas, and was buried beside her husband. Murray and Lina were survived by their four children, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Murray and Lina were devout members of the Nazarene faith who raised their children in a home with strong Christian values. Murray and Lina's kind and gentle spirits will not soon be forgotten.
Photos and biographical information from book entitled Hedgecock and Stowe Family History, published June 2005, Copyright©Nancy Ladd. All rights reserved
He was inducted into the Army in Dallas, Texas on July 11, 1950, and sent to Ft Ord, California for 8 weeks of basic training. From there, he went to Ft Sill, Oklahoma, where he completed Artillery School and learned how to fire the 105 mm howitzer which was used in South Korea against North Korean invaders. But Ft Sill needed a cook, so he started cooking and became a full-time cook. He made Private First Class while at Ft Sill, and was sent to an Army base in Seattle, Washington for overseas staging. He was among 1500 Army men put on a troop ship in Seattle, bound for Japan. When they arrived in Tokyo, they traveled by troop train to Mt Fuji where they received weapons training. He subsequently boarded a troop ship to South Korea. When he arrived, he became a machine gunner and was sent to an outpost in no man's land where he stayed for most of his tour. Other soldiers called Murray "Mule" Johnson because he carried a machine gun on his shoulder, all his belongings in a pack on his back, plus a box of ammunition for his machine gun. In addition, he always carried other people's gear if their load got too heavy. Serving in Korea in active ground combat earned Murray a Combat Infantry Badge, which made him very proud. Murray next went to Kojedo Island, the second largest island in South Korea, which housed a sizeable POW camp. He stayed there a couple of months and then went to Hokkaido, Japan, where he cooked for a couple of years in the 7th Cavalry. He returned to Ft Chaffee, Arkansas in the last part of 1953 for about 20 days awaiting assignment, and then received an assignment to Ft Hood, Texas. After a 30-day leave, he cooked at Ft Hood, Texas until his discharge on May 11, 1954. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Army of Occupation of Japan Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, the United Nations Korean Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
After being discharged, Murray went to Kansas City, Kansas and got a job with Goodyear Tire Company recapping tires. He moved on to Denver after awhile and got a job with Firestone recapping tires. Eventually he moved to Oklahoma City and got a job with Dunlap recapping tires. In 1958, Murray wanted to find a wife, so he went to the Bible Missionary Church in Bethany, Oklahoma, looked around and saw several single women, but only one who caught his eye. Her name was Lina and she was attending the Nazarene college in Bethany. After a whirlwind courtship, Murray married Lina Pauline Yakle, on September 2, 1958 in Durant, Oklahoma. She was born on February 19, 1935, in Herrington, Kansas, the daughter of Glen Henry Yakle and Thelma Marie Gutsch. Murray and Lina had four children. Murray Dean Johnson, Jr., born July 26, 1959; Paul William (Billy) Johnson, born December 18,1960; Deborah Ann Johnson, born December 28, 1962; and Nedra Ann Johnson, born June 5, 1968. Murray worked for Gould National Battery in warehouse and production for 35 years and also ran a ranch for 17 years. He retired from both when he started experiencing medical problems.
Murray died at the age of 77 on May 10, 2008, in Gunter, Texas (Grayson County), and was buried there in the Whitaker Cemetery. He and Lina were only about four months away from celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Lina died eight months after Murray, on January 17, 2009, in Sherman, Texas, and was buried beside her husband. Murray and Lina were survived by their four children, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Murray and Lina were devout members of the Nazarene faith who raised their children in a home with strong Christian values. Murray and Lina's kind and gentle spirits will not soon be forgotten.
Photos and biographical information from book entitled Hedgecock and Stowe Family History, published June 2005, Copyright©Nancy Ladd. All rights reserved
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