06/06/2026
JOHNSON, Paul Larkin, 1st Lieutenant, 186th Field Artillery Bn., V Corps Artillery. Omaha Beach, Normandy, 6 June 1944; Bronze Star Medal w/V Device for Valor.
Woodrow Class of 1938
On June 6, 1944 (D-Day), Paul Larkin Johnson, Jr. served as a U.S. Army artillery officer and forward observer, landing on Omaha Beach (specifically in the Red Sector near Colleville-sur-Mer).
Landing: He landed in Normandy during the initial phases of Operation Overlord. As an artillery forward observer, his highly dangerous role required him to scout ahead near enemy lines to relay precise ground coordinates back to artillery batteries.
Bronze Star for Valor: In September 1944, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for successfully directing artillery fire that neutralized multiple German tanks during the Battle of the Falaise Pocket in France.
Subsequent Actions: He continued acting as a forward observer through major European campaigns, including the grueling Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in November 1944.
Personal Background: Born on July 31, 1921, in Dallas, Texas, he attended Woodrow Wilson High School and later Allen Military Academy.
War Assignment: Drafted in 1942 and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1943, he was staged in Barry, Wales, before crossing the English Channel for the invasion.
Post-War: While stationed in the UK waiting for transport home, he married a Welsh woman, Florence Olwen Rowe.
He returned to Texas, and co-founded the Denton Meeting Room religious community.
Paul was primarily a home builder in Denton, TX and also was a Minister. He could read and/or speak German, Spanish, Hebrew and Latin. Paul attended the University of South Wales, SMU Dallas and Dallas Theological Seminary.
He passed away on June 26, 2007, at the age of 85.