Shoshana Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shoshana Nyree Johnson
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Shoshana Johnson at an NAACP dinner—July 18, 2003
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| Nickname(s) | Shana |
| Born | 18 January 1973 Pedro Miguel, Panama |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1998–2003 |
| Rank |  Specialist |
| Unit | 5th Battalion 52d Air Defense Artillery 507th Maintenance Company |
| Battles/wars | |
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Shoshana "Shana" Nyree Johnson, born on January 18, 1973, is a former soldier from the United States. She made history as the first black female prisoner of war in American military history. Shoshana was a Specialist in the U.S. Army.
During the Battle of Nasiriyah, she was shot in both ankles. Iraqi forces then captured her. She was held as a prisoner in Iraq for 22 days with five other soldiers from her unit. On April 13, 2003, United States Marine Corps units rescued her.
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Shoshana Johnson's Early Life and Military Service
Shoshana Johnson is from Panama. She is a second-generation U.S. Army veteran. Her family moved to the United States when she was a child. She is the oldest child of Claude and Eunice Johnson. Her father was a retired Army Sergeant First Class.
In 1991, Shoshana was part of the JROTC program. This program helps students learn about leadership and the military. She did not plan to have a military career. Instead, she wanted to go to culinary school. She joined the Army to save money for her studies. In September 1998, she joined the U.S. Army after leaving the University of Texas at El Paso.
Joining the Army and Deployment to Iraq
In February 2003, Shoshana was serving at Fort Bliss, Texas. She received orders to go to Iraq. She was a Food Service Specialist. Her job was to prepare meals for soldiers. Her company also provided mechanics to fix Patriot missile trucks.
On March 23, 2003, Shoshana was part of a convoy. This was one month after she arrived for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her supply convoy took a wrong turn and was attacked in the city of Nasiriyah. Iraqi troops ambushed them. Eleven soldiers from her company died in the ambush. One of them was Pfc. Lori Piestewa, who was Shoshana's good friend. Lori Piestewa was the first woman killed in the war. There had been heavy fighting around Nasiriyah. This city was an important crossing point over the River Euphrates. Shoshana was among a dozen soldiers who were captured. She had been shot in her ankles.
Iraqi authorities showed a video of Shoshana shortly after her capture. This video was how many Americans first saw her.
During the gruff interview, Johnson looked tense, her eyes darting quickly left, then right. Barely an hour before, she'd been shot in both ankles and captured along with five other soldiers, including Pfc. Jessica Lynch, who was badly wounded and was held prisoner at a separate location.
Rescue and Return Home
On April 13, 2003, U.S. Marines rescued Shoshana. They were from the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. They conducted house raids in the city of Samarra. Shoshana was rescued along with six other prisoners of war. They were welcomed as heroes in the United States on April 16. Over 3,000 people cheered for them. The U.S. Army honored them for their bravery and service. Shoshana had been held captive for 23 days.
On December 12, 2003, Shoshana left the U.S. Army. She received a Temporary Disability Honorable Discharge. She was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the Prisoner of War Medal. These awards recognized her courage and service in Iraq. On New Year's Eve 2003, Shoshana was asked to join New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. Together, they activated the Times Square New Year ball drop to welcome 2004.
Public Attention and Her Story
Differences in Media Focus
Some people felt that the military and media focused more attention on Jessica Lynch, a white woman, than on Shoshana Johnson, a black woman. News reports mentioned that Jessica Lynch received a large book deal and more disability payments. Some believed this showed a long-standing issue of race in the military. Shoshana Johnson has said that reports of her and Jessica Lynch being at odds are not true.
Sharing Her Story in Books
Shoshana Johnson signed a book deal to write her story. The first book was planned to be called One Wrong Turn. It was meant to tell her side of the story and more about her fallen comrades.
Later, Shoshana signed a deal with Simon & Schuster in 2008. Her book, I'm Still Standing: From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen — My Journey Home, was released on February 2, 2010. It shares her experiences from being a captive soldier to returning home as a free citizen.
