Place of death Iwo Jima, Japan † Role American football player 1940-1941 Green Bay Packers Positions Guard | Years of service 1942–1945 Name Howard Johnson | |
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Date of birth (1916-09-22)September 22, 1916 Place of birth Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States Date of death February 19, 1945(1945-02-19) (aged 28) Died February 19, 1945, Iwo Jima, Japan College Georgia Bulldogs football team Service/branch United States Marine Corps Battles and wars Battle of Kwajalein, Battle of Saipan, Battle of Tinian, Battle of Iwo Jima, World War II | ||
Allegiance United States of America | ||
Howard White "Smiley" Johnson (September 22, 1916 – February 19, 1945) was a professional American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He played the 1937, 1938 and 1939 college football seasons at the University of Georgia before joining the Green Bay Packers for the 1940 and 1941 seasons. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and served with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines of the 4th Marine Division through the battles of Kwajalein, Saipan (earning a Silver Star), and Tinian.On February 19, 1945, 1st Lieutenant Johnson was killed in action at the Battle of Iwo Jima, and awarded a second Silver Star posthumously. He was buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 2, 1949