Gale R. Johnson

CSM (USA Ret) Gale R. Johnson, 87, of Radcliff, KY, passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at the Carl M. Brashear Radcliff Veterans Center.

Gale served our nation honorably for almost 24 years prior to his retirement in 1975.

Gale was born June 14, 1932 in Hurricane, WV, to Homer and Opal Johnson, the fifth of their eight children.His family always called him “Jake.” Gale was extremely proud he was born on Flag Day.

Gale enlisted in the Army in October 1951. In February 1952, he was sent to Korea to serve with the 40th Infantry Division. During his 17 months in the Korean Conflict, he went from PFC (E-2) to MSGT (E-7) due to battlefield promotions. He was also awarded the first of two Bronze Stars and the first of two Combat Infantry Badges. 

Upon his return to the states in August 1953, Gale was assigned to Fort Dix, NJ, where he met the love of his life, PFC Roberta Mae Kellaway. They married in January 1954 and the first of their five children, Michael, was born later that same year.

In March 1955, Gale and Roberta (now a civilian) were sent to Austria. The US occupation ended in July, so they returned to the states in September and were assigned to Fort Knox, KY, where their second child, Donna, was born.

In April 1956, Gale was stationed with the ROTC detachment at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. He was happy to be home in his beloved West Virginia and close to his family. He served as the coach to the award winning WVU Varsity rifle team and the Army ROTC rifle team. Their third child, Tammy, was born during this time.

In July 1959, Gale was transferred to Schofield Barracks, HI, to serve with the 25th Infantry Division. In 1960, he was promoted to MSGT (E-8) and assigned the position of First Sergeant. While living in Hawaii, their fourth and fifth children, Curtis and Brian, were born.

In 1962, Gale and his family were sent to Fort Benning, GA, where he was assigned to the Army Infantry School.  They lived there until October 1964, when Gale was sent to Greenbrier Military Academy in Lewisburg, WV, to be a Military Science Instructor. In July 1965, Gale was promoted to SGM (E-9) and in September was transferred to the ROTC detachment at the University of Cincinnati to again teach Military Science.

In June 1968, Gale, now a CSM, was sent to Vietnam to serve with the 4th Infantry Division. While there, he was awarded a second Bronze Star and a second Combat Infantry Badge.

Upon his return to the states in August 1969, Gale was assigned to the 2nd Brigade at Fort Knox. He returned to a peacetime Korea in July 1972 and came back to Fort Knox a year later. He remained at Fort Knox, serving with the 5th Calvary 1st AIT Brigade and the 194th Armored Brigade, until his retirement in October 1975.  Gale transitioned to civilian life, working as a self-employed residential remodeler.

In addition to those already mentioned and numerous others, Gale’s awards include the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Roberta, and two sons, Michael and Curtis.

Survivors include one son, Brian Johnson and his wife, Edna of Westminster, CO; two daughters, Tammy Radtke and her husband, Robert of Vine Grove, KY, and Donna Kirk and her husband, Flayo of Wake Forest, NC; four grandchildren; five great grandchildren; one brother, Dorsey Johnson of Hurricane, WV; and one sister, Benita Schirtzinger of Winfield, WV; and a host of family and friends.

Gale will forever be loved and missed by those he left behind. We can proudly say Gale made a lasting impression on everyone he met with his charm, energy, kindness, and most of all, his mischief.

Visitation and services for Gale will be private. Burial will be in the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central, Radcliff, KY.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gale R. Johnson, please visit our floral store.