Joseph D. Johnson
Sergeant, United States Army
May 7, 1986 – June 16, 2010
Age – 24
Flint, MI
Operation Enduring Freedom
161st Engineer Support Company, 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat), (Airborne) 20th Engineer Brigade, 18 Airborne Corps, Ft. Bragg, NC
Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in North Kunduz, Afghanistan
Joseph Dennis Johnson was born May 7, 1986 in Flint, Michigan. He graduated from Carman Ainsworth High School in 2004 and attended Lake Superior State University. He became a US Army soldier in 2006.
Joe was an adventure, mischievous and fun loving. From the time he was little, you never knew what was coming next. He once said of himself “I live life to the fullest. You only live once, make the best of it because the only things in life you regret are the risks that you didn’t take!” Anyone can tell you that Joe enjoyed life, laughter, and his family. You can’t talk about him without laughing. He loved the outdoors, practical jokes, his sweatpants and slippers, and just having fun. When asked what his favorite color was one day, he replied “Plaid”.
After basic training, Joe received training in many different areas. He became an Airborne Combat Engineer (rough terrain) and was trained in identifying and destroying IED’s. He deployed to Afghanistan with the 161st Combat Engineers in December 2009 as Counter-IED. He was a team leader, medic, and volunteered for every mission. He believed in his job and said that for every bomb he found and disarmed, someone’s life was saved. He enjoyed the Afghan people, especially the children. He loved his fellow soldiers, and they loved him. “His leadership, his laughter, and his light will be missed”, stated one commander. He was a courageous soldier and a hero to his family and friends. A real “GI Joe”.
“You always lived for a thrill,” said the letter from Johnson’s sister, Jennifer Pollak. “Sometimes being an idiot, but I loved you. I would shake my head, but smile. You weren’t afraid of anything, Joe. I admire your bravery, courage, passion and dedication.”
A letter from Johnson’s parents, Dennis and Teri Johnson, described raising Johnson as an adventure. He would do anything to take care of his parents, they wrote, and they’ll miss his smile and their long talks with him.
Johnson’s family was presented with the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Combat Action Medal for Johnson’s service.
The Rev. W. Glen Gardner said Johnson loved his job of dismantling bombs.
“We’re here today to pay tribute and honor a man who couldn’t just join the Army, he had to give everything to the Army,” Gardner said. “So he would call you in the middle of a minefield and say, ‘Hey Mom, guess where I’m at?’”