Maynard Ellsworth Johnson was born November 22, 1919 in Medina, North Dakota to John A. and Ida B. Swiggum Johnson. John had emigrated from Norway to North Dakota in 1901. He and Ida, also of Norwegian heritage, were married in Wahpeton, North Dakota on February 16, 1917. They farmed in Chase Lake, Stutsman County, North Dakota when Maynard was born, then moved to Norman County, Minnesota and farmed in Wild Rice Township.  Maynard had five brothers: William, Clifford, Richard, Julian and Leland and one sister, Violet. The Johnson family moved to the Alida, Minnesota area in 1940.

Maynard attended school through the 8^th grade, then went to work as a laborer for the WPA.  He was employed by Olaf Anderson of Ada as a farm laborer when he registered for the draft in July of 1941. He was 6’ tall, 160 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

It is unknown when Maynard joined the Army. He was declared missing in action in Belgium on December 30, 1944. He was later given the designation FOD, or “finding of death.” In the absence of a recovered body, soldiers that were determined to be dead under Public Law 490 were designated FOD. The finding was made in cases where there was either conclusive proof that the person is dead or equally overwhelming evidence that the person could not have remained alive at least one year from time of disappearance.

Private Maynard Johnson was 25 years old.