Earnest Walton Johnston

July 9, 1942

THREE LEAVE FOR CAMP LAST MONDAY

Three Flagler county men left last Monday, July 6, to be inducted into the armed forces of the nation, O. F. Alford, clerk of the local board announced today.

The men were John Alfred Clegg, Owen Ozem Thomas, Jr., and ERNEST WALTON JOHNSTON, JR.

Mr. Alford also announced that Thaddeus Theodore Cyzycki, who has been registered with this board, has transferred to the Local Board No.4, Duval County, for delivery.

James Hulett Durrance, who was scheduled to go in this call, enlisted in the U. S. Navy, Mr. Alford said.

October 1, 1942

A letter to The Tribune from Joe Norfleet, now at Camp Eustis, Va., gives his routine for the day, including "sweeping, scrubbing and KP." But, Joe says, “it’s not as bad as I expected." W ALTON JOHNSTON is also stationed at Camp Eustis.

October 15, 1942

WALTON JOHNSTON, of the army, enjoyed a short week-end stay here at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Johnston. He is stationed at Ft. Eustis, Va.

December 3, 1942

WALTON JOHNSTON, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Johnston, has been transferred to Camp Hulen, Texas, where he is a member of the "first" band there.

February 4, 1943

WALTON JOHNSTON, army bandsman and stationed at Camp Hulen, Texas, is home on a short furlough. Walton said that he is really getting in the groove.

May 13, 1943

WALTON JOHNSTON, member of a band at Camp Hulen, Texas, sent home to his folks this week a picture of the band and a clipping from the camp newspaper, telling about some excellent theatrical programs staged at the camp and the part the band plays in them. Walton, who was a hot trumpet player, has been switched to a bass horn, he said. The programs are called the GI Jubilee.

May 27, 1943

Had a letter from WALTON JOHNSON, member of the band at Camp Hulen, Texas. Walton said “the camp seemed rather dead now but not for long. The WACC’s will move in next month and things should come to life then.” Walton added that their “band had been playing for bond rallies and these Texans certainly are buying their share of bonds.”

(We must say, in Florida’s defense, that this state led the whole southeast in bond purchases during the recent drives)

August 12, 1943

WALTON JOHNSTON, member of the army band at Camp Hulen, Texas, is here on a short furlough visiting his patents, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Johnston.

August 29, 1943

Talk about tough luck. Pfc. WALTON JOHNSON came home recently on furlough and had been here only a few days before he went down with bronchitis. Had to stay in bed the remainder of his time and left home for Camp Hulen, Texas, still feeling worse that the morning after the night before.

February 17, 1944

Pfc. WALTON JOHNSTON is here on furlough visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Johnston.

May 11, 1944

Pvt. Harold Higginbotham at Camp Gruber. Oklahoma, writes his kid brother, Clifford here, that he recently met up with Pfc. WALTON JOHNSTON who was recently transferred from Camp Hulen. Texas, to Camp Gruber. Clifford also informed us that he recently had a letter from his brother, Jack Higginbotham, and that he is now in Burma.

August 17, 1944

Pfc. WALTON JOHNSTON from Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, is here on a 10-day furlough with his parents.

Among the men in uniform here this week are: Pvt. Leonard Moody, on a 10-day furlough from Camp Carson, Colo., and Pfc. WALTON JOHNSTON from Camp Gruber, Okla., who is visiting his brother-in-law and sister Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Cook.

August 24, 1944

Pfc. WALTON JOHNSTON, from Camp Gruber, Okla., and who has been here on furlough for 10 days returned to camp today.

November 2, 1944

Pvt. Jimmy Hargett, at Blanding for several months, has been transferred to Camp Gruber, Oklahoma. Two other Flagler county soldiers are stationed there - WALTON JOHNSTON and Harold Higginbotham.

December 28, 1944

Three fellows who left Camp Gruber, Okla., some time ago have arrived in France. They are Jimmie Hargett, Harold Higginbotham and WALTON JOHNSTON. They are yet together.

January 18, 1945

And a letter from Pfc. WALTON JOHNSTON who recently landed in France together with two of his Bunnell buddies - Jimmy Hargett and Harold Higginbotham. Walton relates:

"We were finally given a breathing spell so I'll not waste any time asking for The Tribune to be sent to me.

Harold Higginbotham, Jimmy Hargett and myself went to Aix and Marseille, France, a few days ago. Marseille is pretty well torn up from the war. I couldn't find a square meal but the wine flows like water. In fact, you can get wine easier than water.

Cigarettes are ten dollars a carton when you can find any. Thank God Uncle Sam is furnishing us smokes.

Have been on the move since we left Marseille. Rode in box cars. Over here they are called Forty and Eight - forty men or eight horses to a car.

Where I am at now the people seem friendly enough but we are not allowed to mingle with them.

Tell the rest of the gang hello for Harold, Jimmy and myself."

(Ed note: So you three have gotten acquainted with French box cars! Those dinky things so familiar to American soldiers there 26 years ago. This writer has seen plenty of them. In fact he is a member of an honor society of the American Legion called La Societe des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux, usually called the Forty & Eight. We wonder if they had just unloaded the horses when they loaded you in?)

February 1, 1945

WALTON JOHNSTON MISSING IN ACTION WAR DEPT. SAYS

Pfc. ERNEST WALTON JOHNSTON, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Johnston here, was reported this week by the War Department as "missing in action."

The telegram from the War Department said he had been missing since January 6. He was in France. His parents received today a 1etter dated January 1 and he was then in France.

Private Johnston entered the army in July of 1942, at Camp Blanding receiving his training at camps in Virginia, Texas and Oklahoma. He went overseas in October of last year.

March 29, 1945

BROADCAST SAYS WALTON JOHNSTON GERMAN PRISONER

Pfc. ERNEST WALTON JOHNSTON, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Johnston of Bunnell, is a prisoner of war in Germany, according to a German propaganda broadcast heard by many persons in the United States and who have written to the parents here that they heard the broadcast. It reported him well.

He was reported "missing in action on January 6," by the war department.

The first report to the parents here from those who listen to these broadcasts concerning our boys in prison in Germany, came from W. S. Acree, Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia, who telephoned Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, giving the information he had heard. That same evening he wrote the following and sent it to the parents here:

"This letter is to confirm our telephone conversation of tonight.

Tonight at approximately 11:15 P. M., E. W. T., a recording of the voice of Ernest W. Johnston, 34209067, was played over radio station DXP in Berlin, Germany. This station is controlled by the German government, and each night they play recordings of several prisoners now in German prison camps. Of course, the boys must be careful as to what they say, so the messages they send are short and brief. E. W. Johnston, 34209067, said:

‘Hello Folks: This is Walton. I am now a prisoner in Germany. Getting along fine. If anyone receives this please send it to my mother.’

“If you haven't already received other letters the same as this, you will probably do so, because there are quite a few of us over the country who have a hobby of listening to these broadcasts and writing to the nearest of kin mentioned, but Bunnell being so close to Atlanta compared to most of the places I hear messages for, I decided to phone you.

You may be interested in knowing that during the time I have been doing this as a hobby that, as far as I can find out, there hasn't been a false message sent out."

The parents also received a phone call from a woman in Kentucky, giving practically the same information. Since then letters have been pouring in from all parts of the nation from other listeners located in every section of the nation.

Mrs. Johnston also received a telegram from the Provost General in Washington stating that the "enemy propaganda broadcast" was known to him. The telegram conveyed the same information the hobby circle had heard.

April 29, 1945

WALTON JOHNSTON GERMAN PRISONER

Pfc. ERNEST WALTON JOHNSTON, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Johnston here, is a prisoner in Germany, according to a telegram received today by the parents from the War Department in Washington.

The message only stated that our government had been officially notified that he was a prisoner, and added that any additional information received by the department would be transmitted to Mr. and Mrs. Johnston.

Private Johnston was reported "missing in action" on January 6 by the War Department, and a few weeks ago the parents here were informed by nearly a hundred persons, scattered over the United States, that they had heard a German radio broadcast of a message spoken by Walton.
Then, just last week, Private Johnston's parents received a card from their son, mailed from a German prison camp January 17, stating that he was well.

May 10, 1945

Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Johnston are happy parents today. The War Department has just wired them that their son, Pfc. WALTON JOHNSTON, a prisoner of the Germans since last January, has "again come under U. S. military control," which means that he is back safe with our army.

June 28, 1945

We are happy to report that another Bunnell boy has arrived home from the German prison camps. He is Pfc. WALTON JOHNSTON and will be here for a 60-day furlough before going to Miami for redistribution.

Walton was taken prisoner on January 6 in "the bulge." He has gained back most of the 60 pounds of weight he lost while being a prisoner.

September 13, 1945

Pfc. WALTON JOHNSTON passed through here Sunday en route to a camp in Arkansas. He recently reported to Miami for redistribution after spending his 60-day furlough here with relatives.

December 13, 1945

Discharged from the armed forces this week ....... ERNEST WALTON JOHNSTON