Shoshana "Shana" Nyree Johnson (born January 18, 1973) is a Panamanian-born former United States Army soldier who became the first African-American woman taken prisoner of war in the military history of the United States.
Johnson enlisted in the Army in 1998 and served as a Food Service Specialist with the 507th Maintenance Company based at Fort Bliss, Texas.
During the opening phase of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Johnson was wounded when her convoy was ambushed in the Battle of Nasiriyah on March 23, 2003. She was captured by Iraqi forces and held as a prisoner of war for 22 days before being rescued by U.S. Marines on April 13, 2003.
Early life and education
Johnson was born on January 18, 1973, in Pedro Miguel, Panama, where her father, Sergeant First Class Claude Johnson, was serving in the United States Army. She is the eldest child of Claude Johnson and his wife, Eunice Johnson. Her family later moved to the United States and settled in El Paso, Texas, where she grew up in a military family environment connected to nearby Fort Bliss.
She attended Andress High School in El Paso, Texas, where she participated in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). Growing up in a military household influenced her familiarity with Army life, although she did not initially intend to pursue a military career.
Shortly after dawn, Iraqi military and paramilitary forces ambushed the convoy. The unit came under heavy fire from small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and other weapons as it attempted to move through the city. During the fighting, 11 soldiers from the 507th Maintenance Company were killed and several others were wounded. Among the dead was Lori Piestewa, who became the first Native American woman killed in combat while serving in the U.S. military.
Johnson's capture made her the first African-American woman known to have been taken prisoner of war in the military history of the United States.
Johnson has since been recognized by veterans organizations and community groups for her military service and resilience following captivity, and she has spoken publicly about the experiences of prisoners of war and the challenges of recovery after combat.