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graduate, were visiting the front lines. Suddenly, some mortar shells hit the area killing or wounding several soldiers. A large fragment hit the
Johnson in the stomach. The medics knew that the wound was very serious, if not fatal. Two hours later, Johnson groaned, "Take care of my boys" to Ewell
208:. Before he was scheduled to graduate, Johnson went to Texas, where he tried to become a pilot in the Army Air Corps. The instructors sent him away because of poor "side vision." Johnson stayed in the Army, however, and was stationed in the
228:. Before World War II broke out, Johnson, by then advancing in rank, was driving a jeep when it flipped over, severely injuring him. After he eventually recovered, his commanders offered him the chance to command the
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232:, known as the "Black Devils." Johnson didn't think that it would ever be an effective fighting force. The unit went on to fight in World War II under command of
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The 101st
Airborne was ordered to seize 15 miles (24 km) of highway, including several bridges, in the Netherlands as part of the combined airborne/armored
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reserve in July 1944, so after a month of fighting, the 501st PIR was able to rest. For his actions in
Normandy, Johnson was awarded the
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324:. On 17 September 1944 the 501st PIR landed approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) east of its planned drop zone near the town of
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On 8 October 1944 the 501st PIR was dug in on the "Island" a small strip of land between the
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of German paratroopers guarding the canal locks. The 101st
Division became the
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for military maneuvers. In
January 1944, Johnson and the 501st PIR sailed to
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was assigned to seize some canal locks and demolish the bridges over the
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rivers. Johnson and his young executive officer, Lieutenant
Colonel
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384:"Howard Johnson - Recipient - Military Times Hall Of Valor"
366:"The 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) during WW II"
236:, earning recognition for its nighttime raids behind the
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Howard
Ravenscroft Johnson was born on June 18, 1903, in
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in that state. Graduating from
Central High School in
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United States Army personnel killed in World War II
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256:After the regiment endured rigorous training at
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164:(June 18, 1903 – October 8, 1944) was an
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428:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
16:United States Army officer (1903–1944)
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316:Grave at Arlington National Cemetery
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246:501st Parachute Infantry Regiment
174:501st Parachute Infantry Regiment
144:501st Parachute Infantry Regiment
433:Military personnel from Maryland
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252:Commanding the 501st and D-Day
172:. He was the commander of the
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418:United States Army colonels
302:Distinguished Service Cross
230:First Special Service Force
85:Arlington National Cemetery
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162:Howard Ravenscroft Johnson
23:Howard Ravenscroft Johnson
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96:United States of America
75:Heteren, the Netherlands
388:valor.militarytimes.com
322:Operation Market Garden
308:Operation Market Garden
282:101st Airborne Division
200:, Johnson attended the
61:Maryland, United States
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35:Colonel Howard Johnson
348:and died soon after.
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122:Years of service
370:www.ww2-airborne.us
234:Robert T. Frederick
192:. His father was a
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202:U.S. Naval Academy
170:United States Army
116:United States Army
268:, it was sent to
210:Panama Canal Zone
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69:October 8, 1944
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59:June 18, 1903
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44:Skeets, Jumpy
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341:Julian Ewell
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262:Fort Benning
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184:Early career
178:World War II
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154:World War II
150:Battles/wars
71:(1944-10-08)
413:1944 deaths
408:1903 births
286:Douve River
258:Camp Toccoa
242:Anzio Beach
194:shipbuilder
41:Nickname(s)
402:Categories
352:References
345:West Point
298:First Army
226:Fort Meade
92:Allegiance
55:1903-06-18
294:battalion
240:lines at
214:Fort Sill
206:Annapolis
125:1923–1944
290:Normandy
218:Oklahoma
190:Maryland
140:Commands
102:Service/
274:England
266:Georgia
220:and in
176:during
168:of the
166:officer
134:Colonel
326:Veghel
238:German
113:
104:branch
337:Rhine
278:D-Day
222:China
343:, a
335:and
333:Waal
260:and
130:Rank
66:Died
49:Born
204:in
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