Royal C. Johnson

Royal Cleaves Johnson (October 3, 1882 – August 2, 1939) was a U.S. Representative from South Dakota and a highly decorated veteran of World War I while he was still a member of Congress. Despite voting against United States declaration of war on Germany, he took a leave of absence from Congress to enlist. He became a highly decorated veteran receiving the Distinguished Service Cross from the United States government. He also received the War Cross 1914–1918 from the French government.

Royal C. Johnson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1933
Preceded by	Charles H. Burke
Succeeded by	Theodore B. Werner
8th Attorney General of South Dakota
In office 1911–1915
Governor	Robert S. Vessey Frank M. Byrne
Preceded by	S. Wesley Clark
Succeeded by	Clarence C. Caldwell
Personal details
Born	Royal Cleaves Johnson October 3, 1882 Cherokee, Iowa
Died	August 2, 1939(1939-08-02) (aged 56) Washington, D.C.
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	University of South Dakota School of Law
Profession	Attorney
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Rank	Captain
Unit	Company K, 313th Infantry, 79th Division
Battles/wars	World War I Meuse-Argonne (WIA) Defensive Sector
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross War Cross 1914–1918 (France)

Early life and education

Royal Cleaves Johnson was born in Cherokee, Iowa in 1882. He moved with his parents to Highmore, South Dakota in 1883, and attended the public schools. He graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1906, and was admitted to the bar that same year.

Career

He started his practice in Highmore. He became the assistant state's attorney for Hyde County in 1906, and State's Attorney in 1908 and 1909. In 1910, he became the Attorney General of South Dakota. In 1913, he moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota and returned to private practice. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1915, serving through the end of the Seventy-Second Congress in 1932. He was the chairman for the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of War (1921–1925), and the Committee on World War Veteran's Legislation (1929–1932). He was not a candidate for reelection in 1932.

World War I

In 1918, even though he had on April 5, 1917, voted against declaring war on Germany, he absented himself from the Congress and enlisted in the United States Army to fight in World War I. He served in the 313th Infantry Regiment as a private, sergeant, second lieutenant, and first lieutenant. In Montfaucon, France, on the 26th and 27 September 1918, he was involved in a combat situation wherein he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire and was wounded by an exploding shell. Although severely wounded, he accompanied two of his fellow soldiers to the rear and refused space in an ambulance until his comrades were cared for. For this, he received the Distinguished Service Cross from the United States government. He also received the Croix de Guerre with gold star from the Republic of France.

The American Legion

After Johnson returned from the war, he resumed his seat in Congress. Johnson was the House sponsor of legislation to create a federal charter for The American Legion. The Senate co-sponsor was Sen. Josiah Wolcott of Delaware. The bill was filed on June 27, 1919, passed the House on August 27, passed the Senate on September 5 and was signed by President Wilson on September 16, 1919.[1]

Later Life

Upon retiring from the House, he continued to practice law in Washington, D.C., until his death there in 1939. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. In 1953 he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by The American Legion.

Legacy

The Veterans Administration hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, The Royal C. Johnson Veterans Memorial Medical Center, is named in his honor.

Awards

Johnson's awards and decorations included the following:

U.S. military decorations
	Distinguished Service Cross
U.S. nonmilitary decorations
	World War I Victory Medal (with two bronze service stars)
Foreign military decorations
	War Cross 1914–1918 (France)

See also

• List of members of the American Legion

References

1. James, Marquis. 1923. A History of The American Legion. p. 71.

External links

• "Royal C. Johnson". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
• United States Congress. "Royal C. Johnson (id: J000173)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

Legal offices
Preceded by S. Wesley Clark	Attorney General of South Dakota 1911–1915	Succeeded by Clarence C. Caldwell
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Charles H. Burke	United States Representative (2nd District) for South Dakota 1915–1933	Succeeded by Theodore B. Werner