SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A North Dakotan who died aboard the USS Oklahoma during the attack on Pearl Harbor will be buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Navy says Edward Dale Johnson of New Rockford, North Dakota will be buried on October 25. Johnson served as a Fireman 1st Class. His family currently resides in Vermillion, South Dakota.
Johnson received numerous awards and decorations including:
- Purple Heart Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon OVER
- Good Conduct Medal
- American Defense Service Medal (Fleet Clasp)
- Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (with Bronze Star)
- American Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Rifle Marksman
The USS Oklahoma was among almost half of the U.S. Pacific Fleet — consisting of 150 vessels —
lay at anchor at Naval Base Pearl Harbor Hawaii when attacked by air forces of the Japanese Empire on December 7, 1941. Moored in Battleship Row beside the USS Maryland, the
Oklahoma was among the first vessels hit.
