Shosanna Johnson
|
|
| Rank/Branch |
Spc/Army |
| Unit |
507th Maitenance Company, Fort Bliss, Texas |
| Personal Information | |
| Date of Birth |
|
| Residency |
Medina, Texas |
| POW Information | |
| Date of Loss |
March 23, 2003 |
| Place of Loss |
Nasiriyah, Iraq |
| Category of Means of Loss: |
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: Convoy |
Shoshanna Johnson is an US Army chef who became a POW in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The eldest child of retired Army-personnel Claude Johnson and wife Eunice, Soshanna Johnson was in the ROTC at Andress High School, although she didn't plan a career in the military. While in high school, the popular and outgoing student was on the drill team, and had a reportedly had a knack for getting out of difficult situations.
Seeking cooking training, Shoshanna enlisted in the 507th Maintenance Company, with the duty of preparing meals. She says that she had no intention of going out to war. Her company's duty was to supply mechanics to repair the Patriot missile trucks housed at the post.
On March 23, 2003, Iraqi troops ambushed a U.S. Army supply convoy near An Nasiriyah when it took a wrong turn. There had been bitter fighting around Nasiriyah, a vital crossing point of the River Euphrates. Johnson was among a dozen soldiers in the convoy who captured.
Janelle, Shoshanna's two-year old daughter, was taken care of by her grandparents, while Shoshanna was on duty in Iraq. Claude learned of his daughter's fate while flipping through the channels, to find a cartoon for his grand-daughter. Telemundo was broadcasting Al-Jazeera footage of the POWs being interviewed by an off camera reporter for the Middle Eastern network. This capture was later confirmed, when the couple was summoned to Fort Bliss.
She has an unmarried sister, Nikki Johnson.
Quotations
- "Just stay strong. Keep your dignity. Try not to let them break you." - Advice to then-POW Shoshanna Johnson from her sister Nikki
- "She always had an angel following her around. She always manages to get out of stuff. Hopefully her angel is still with her." - Nikki Johnson on her then-POW sister, Shoshanna's good luck.