George Alfred Johnson was born on 26 September 1922 in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 28 January 1942. He served at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Marine Corps Base Quantico, before sailing for the Pacific in April 1942. Attached to the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, Private Johnson participated in the invasion of Tulagi, Solomon Islands on 7 August 1942. During mopping-up operations 2 days later, his squad came under rifle fire from a sniper's nest in a nearby cave. He rushed to the mouth of the cave and continued to throw in grenades until he was killed, allowing his squad to advance. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.