Oscar G . Johnson Oscar Godfrey Johnson , Jr . ( March 25 , 1921 – May 13 , 1998 ) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military ' s highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in World War II . Biography . Johnson joined the Army from his birthplace of Foster City , Michigan in October 1942 , and by September 16 , 1944 was serving as a private first class in Company B , 363rd Infantry Regiment , 91st Infantry Division . On that day and the following two days , near Scarperia , Italy , he single - handedly held his position at his unit ' s left flank after all other members of his squad had been killed or wounded . He was subsequently promoted to Sergeant and , on July 19 , 1945 , awarded the Medal of Honor . Johnson later joined the Michigan National Guard in July 1959 , and reached the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Four before his discharge in April 1964 . He died at age 77 and was buried in DeWitt Cemetery , De Witt , Michigan . Medal of Honor citation . Johnson ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : He practically single - handed protected the left flank of his company ' s position in the offensive to break the German ' s gothic line . Company B was the extreme left assault unit of the corps . The advance was stopped by heavy fire from Monticelli Ridge , and the company took cover behind an embankment . Sgt . Johnson , a mortar gunner , having expended his ammunition , assumed the duties of a rifleman . As leader of a squad of 7 men he was ordered to establish a combat post 50 yards to the left of the company to cover its exposed flank . Repeated enemy counterattacks , supported by artillery , mortar , and machinegun fire from the high ground to his front , had by the afternoon of 16 September killed or wounded all his men . Collecting weapons and ammunition from his fallen comrades , in the face of hostile fire , he held his exposed position and inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy , who several times came close enough to throw hand grenade s . On the night of 16 – 17 September , the enemy launched his heaviest attack on Company B , putting his greatest pressure against the lone defender of the left flank . In spite of mortar fire which crashed about him and machinegun bullets which whipped the crest of his shallow trench , Sgt . Johnson stood erect and repulsed the attack with grenades and small arms fire . He remained awake and on the alert throughout the night , frustrating all attempts at infiltration . On 17 September , 25 German soldiers surrendered to him . Two men , sent to reinforce him that afternoon , were caught in a devastating mortar and artillery barrage . With no thought of his own safety , Sgt . Johnson rushed to the shell hole where they lay half buried and seriously wounded , covered their position by his fire , and assisted a Medical Corpsman in rendering aid . That night he secured their removal to the rear and remained on watch until his company was relieved . Five companies of a German paratroop regiment had been repeatedly committed to the attack on Company B without success . Twenty dead Germans were found in front of his position . By his heroic stand and utter disregard for personal safety , Sgt . Johnson was in a large measure responsible for defeating the enemy ' s attempts to turn the exposed left flank .