Reflections of
VIE TNAM
H onoring our Loca l V eterans
Photo by Harry Gerwien
Johnny Johnson
You can hear the emotion in his voice as former Marine Corporal Johnny Johnson talks about his time in Vietnam. As a part of Kilo Company of the 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced), Johnson was a part of the first line during the Tet Counteroffensive in early February, 1968. Their mission was to seek out regiments of North Vietnamese troops and call in air and artillery strikes on their position. It is believed that there were more than 30,000 North Vietnamese troops in the area. The North Vietnamese, anticipating the strikes, remained well hidden until Marines from India Company were too close to call for strikes without risking the lives of American troops. Kilo Company was called in to help rescue the survivors of India Company. While being loaded on to a CH-46 helicopter, Johnson and members of Kilo Company were told to “grab as much ammo as you can carry.” The North Vietnamese had set up a “field of fire,” covering the ground with explosives and setting up snipers to cover the open area. Four Marines from Cpl. Johnson’s unit were killed even before the company had finished disembarking. Kilo Company managed to rout the North Vietnamese from their positions and held those positions overnight. The next morning, as survivors for India Company were evacuated, Cpl. Johnson’s platoon and others attempted to complete India Company’s mission of sweeping Go Noi Island. The North Vietnamese were not done yet, though. Fighters continued to rain gunfire from well-concealed bunkers and fighting holes. Many platoons were pinned down and could neither retreat nor be TOP PHOTO: Taken prior to Operation Allenbrook, when we reinforced. provided humanitarian assistance to the local population, The survivors were able to including the children pictured at a local orphanage. The Viet fight their way into a large hut, Cong had killed all of their parents. not knowing it was a North 2ND PHOTO: Johnny Johnson pictured with the book “After Vietnamese command post. Tet,” in which Ronald Specter recounts what happened to Taking the North Vietnamese Johnson’s unit in Vietnam in early February 1963 as part of the by surprise, the Marines Tet Counteroffensive. were able to lob grenades in and barricade themselves inside after clearing the hut. Surrounded on all sides, the Marines called for reinforcements. Helicopter gunships were able to provide the cover needed for the survivors to be evacuated. Johnson was severely wounded during the engagement during which 179 Marines from four platoons were killed in just two days of fighting. After arriving home, Johnson eloped with his high school sweetheart and went to night school eventually graduating from Old Dominion University with a business degree. The company he worked for was acquired by the Mattel Toy Corporation and Johnson completed his MBA and worked his way up the corporate ladder until he retired as an executive. He now works at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and is the Vice Chairman of the Virginia State Board of Veterans Services and a member of the Hampton Roads Council of Veterans Organizations, the VFW and the DAV. “I do the most I can with every day I’ve been given to honor the memory of those who did not make it,” says Johnson.
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