Wilber Lee Johnson was born on 27 February 1923. He was the son of Mary Myrtle Trivett Johnson and step-son of Luther Vestal Casteel. His half-brother, Luther V. Casteel Jr. served in the army in Korea.
Buried at Monte Vista Cemetery, Johnson City, TN
Private
306th Medical Battalion, Company B
Pvt. Johnson was a litter bearer in Company B, 306th Medical Battalion. On September 23, 1944, he was assisting in carrying wounded from a deep and rough valley along famed Bloody Nose Ridge on Peleliu Island in the Palau group during an attack on the American held positions before a strongly held Japanese entrenchment. While engaged in carrying out a casualty he was hit and mortally wounded by machine gun fire. He succumbed several hours later. His body was evacuated and buried in the 81st Division Cemetery on Angaur Island.
The Johnson City Press, 10 October 1948
The body of Private Wilber Lee Johnson, a former carrier for the Press-Chronicle, who died of wounds received in action September 23, 1944, will arrive in Johnson City for reburial. Pvt. Johnson, who was 19 at the time of his death, was attached to a unit of the Army Medical Corps. He was a resident of Bristol at the time of his induction into military service in 1943. Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Myrtle J. Castell, of 213 Fall street; two half-brothers, Luther, Jr. and Fitzhugh Lee Castell, and a half-sister, Miss Pearl Castell.
- Rank: Private
- Date of birth: 27 February 1923
- Date of death: 23 September 1944
- County: Washington
- Hometown: Johnson City
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 306th Medical Battalion, Company B
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Monte Vista Cemetery, Johnson City, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XIX, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Wilber L. Johnson
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