Richard D. Johnston Papers

Collection

Identifier: M2246

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Compact disc contains scans of 67 letters and their corresponding envelopes

Dates

1941-1945

Language of Materials

Material is in English unless otherwise noted.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The imply Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.

Biographical / Historical

Richard D. “Dick” Johnston was born on April 9, 1923 to Harry W. and Alva Johnston in Weld County, Colorado. On June 11, 1941 Johnston enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, but he was denied a pilot’s license because he was color blind. He then joined the 10th Mountain Division, attaining the rank of private first class with the 87th Infantry Division, Company A. Johnston trained with the Division at Camp Hale, Colorado; Fort Ord, California; Camp Carson, Colorado; and Camp Swift, Texas. He was deployed to Kiska Island in 1943 and then to Italy in 1945. On April 14, 1945, while on Mount Della Spe, Johnston was hit in the chest by a shell explosion while delivering a message to another company. Though mortally wounded, he got up and continued to run another 300 yards to successfully deliver the message before he collapsed. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a Silver Star.

Extent

1 envelope (67 letters)

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift; Melanie Schwab; 2016.

Subjects

CD-ROMs. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Camp Swift (Tex.) -- Archival resources Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Canp Hale (Colo.) -- Archival resources. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Letters (correspondence). Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Ski troops. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Soldiers -- United States -- Correspondence. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
United States -- Army -- Mountain Division, 10th Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
United States. -- Army. -- Infantry Regiment, 87th -- Archival resources Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings