Colonel Howard R Johnson

Colonel Howard Ravenscroft Johnson was born on June 18^th,1903. His father was a boat manufacturer in Maryland.

He was graduated from the Washington DC Central High School and then from the Annapolis Naval Academy. However, before getting his degree from Annapolis, he tried to get his pilot's license in the Army Air Corps, Texas. But because of an “insufficient vision side”, he was rejected. Howard remained in the army during the Twenties and the Thirties. Serving in at Fort Sill,Oklahoma and in Tientsing, China.

He was at Fort Mead, Maryland in the 30's when the troops used to train with wooden weapons.

In 40's, he was a test driver on a jeep. He had a serious accident causing him the break of his vertebrae. After his recovery, he accepted to command the First Special Service Force, but which was quickly abandoned because the Generals doubted it was really useful.

As the war was approaching, Howard Johnson wanted to be part of it, like being at the command of a force of combat.

He accepted to take the command of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment lately formed at Camp Toccoa,Georgia in November 1942. He gave them the best drive, dined a great mind of fighting spirit to all his regiment. Each man of the Geronimo regiment got Colonel Johnson combat spirit. He lead the regiment to Fort Benning to patent the men as parachutists. They had to jump like 5 times a day. Very frequently he used to join his men to scream “We are the best!” He promised he would lead them to the combats and would win the war with them.

Then, he accompanied them to Camp Mackall, North Carolina and then, at the end of 1943, in Tennessee for army manoeuvres with the 2^Nd Army. After having crossed the Atlantic ocean for England in January 1944, the 501st PIR was then linked to the 101st Airborne. He jumped over Normandy on June 6^th, 1944. On June 7^th, with some men of the 501st lead by Johnson wiped out the men from the 1st battalion of 6th Fallshirmjäger. For this achievement, the regiment got a Presidential Citation.

On September 17^th, 1944, the 501st was dropped over Netherlands. They fought all along the “hell road” in Eerde-Veghel area in September holding positions along the Neder Rhine in western Arnhem in October and November.

On October 6^th, 1944, inspecting the positions of D company along the pier in western Driel, a fragment of shell hit Colonel Johnson at the stomach. He survived 2 hours before dying. He left his regiment between the hands of Lieutenant Colonel Julian J. Ewell. He told him just before dying: “Take care of my boys”.

Colonel H.R.Johnson was first buried nearby Nijmegen before being buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

He was the brightest officer of the Paratroopers, and like General Patton, he never had patience for the weakness among his soldiers. He had an insatiable desire to prove his men were the best and the more brave. He never prided himself on about the achievements of his regiment! However during the combats, he never asked for artillery support against the opposite artillery shootings! (Apparently he was deaf!) This bravery would him his life.

He left Mary as a widow with a son and a girl.