Gudmund Christopher Johnson

Gudmund Christopher Johnson, Jr. of Red Wing, Minn., died at age 22 on July 31, 1951, while being held as a prisoner of war in North Korea. Gudmund, known to his family as "Sonny," was born May 3, 1929, in Goodhue County to Gudmund and Patronella "Nellie" (nee Timmerberg) Johnson. Sonny attended Red Wing schools. According to family members, he left school on his 16th birthday. Having trouble finding work, he enlisted in the Army January 6, 1949. He completed basic training at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, and went on to further training at Camp Carson, Colorado, and Fort Riley, Kansas. In August 1950, Johnson spent a week at Camp Stoneman, California, before his deployment to Korea. He served in Company K, 3rd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division. On November 28, 1950, PFC Johnson was taken prisoner by Chinese forces while protecting the withdrawal of friendly troops across the Kuryong River near Yongbyon, North Korea. He was held for several months and died while a prisoner of war on July 31, 1951. According to interviews of soldiers who knew Gudmund, the apparent cause of his death was malnutrition. He was awarded the rank of Corporal posthumously. In August 2019, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Hickam Laboratory identified Johnson's remains, which are being repatriated to Red Wing.

Johnson is survived by his sister Gladys (Virgil) Gilbertson of Clarksville, Ark., niece Dianna (nee Hutchson) Duncan of Excelsior, Minn., and nephew Daniel Hutchson of Mound, Minn., along with other extended family, including Johnson family members in the Wanamingo area.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., November 9, 2019, at the Mahn Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel in Red Wing. Burial with full military honors will follow at St. John's Cemetery in Red Wing. Visitation will be one hour prior to service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hiawatha Valley Family - Beyond the Yellow Ribbon. Special Thanks to Major Ryan Rossman of the United States Army, Republican Eagle writer Rachel Fergus, Yellow Ribbon representatives Lance and Renee Garrick, and to the many people and organizations that helped to bring Gudmund Home. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhomecom.

---

Funeral Service

NOV 9. 11:00 AM (CST)

Bodelson Mahn Chapel - Mahn Family Funeral Home
602 Plum Street P.O. Box 111
Red Wing, MN 55066