Howard R. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Howard R. Johnson was the commander of the U.S. Army's 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment
during the Second World War.
. His father was a shipbuilder in that state. Graduating from Central High School in Washington, D.C.
, Johnson attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. 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 Panama Canal Zone
, Fort Sill
, Oklahoma
, and in China
, before returning to his home state of Maryland, where he would be posted at Fort Meade. 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 First Special Service Force, known as the "Black Devils." Colonel Johnson didn't think that it would ever be an effective fighting force. The Black Devils went on to fight in World War II, earning recognition for its nighttime raids behind the German
lines at Anzio Beach. Soon, his superiors gave him the opportunity to command another combat unit. It was called the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment
. The colonel accepted.
and Fort Benning
, Georgia
, it was sent to North Carolina
for military maneuvers. In January 1944, Colonel Johnson and the 501st Parachute Infantry sailed to England
. By now, "Jumpy" Johnson had installed a positive attitude in them which led to a fighting spirit. The morale of the 501st stayed rather high the entire time Colonel Howard Johnson was with them and after he was gone. On D-Day
, the 501st, now permanently attached to the 101st Airborne Division
was assigned to seize some canal locks and demolish the bridges over the Douve River. One battalion would be in the 101st Division reserve. When the men of the 'Geronimo Regiment' parachuted into Normandy
, they were widely scattered. Johnson gathered a group of his men and as platoons and companies in the regiment got back together, they annihilated a battalion
of German paratroopers guarding the canal locks. The 501st Regiment, led by Colonel Johnson, had a successful mission, even though in a way that General Dwight Eisenhower's planners never imagined. The 101st Division became the First Army reserve in July 1944, so after a month of fighting, the 501st Regiment was able to rest.
. The 501st PIR landed and organized itself. Always among his men, Johnson provided an example of leadership in the battlefield as he led his men to seize their objectives and get into good positions once a British armored corps
linked up with them. Although part of Operation Market Garden failed, the 501st, led by "Jumpy" Johnson, had seized its objectives.
When the 101st Airborne Division dug in on the "Island" (a small strip of land between the Waal and Rhine Rivers), the 501st was subjected to mortar and artillery fire that killed and maimed many men. Colonel Johnson was able to keep the morale up and the regiment executed several successful patrols. On October 8, 1944, Johnson and his young executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel Julian Ewell, a West Point graduate, were visiting the front lines. Suddenly, some mortar shells hit the area. Men raced for cover and got down. Some of them were killed by the barrage. A large fragment hit the Colonel in the stomach. He fell to the ground. The medics knew that the wound was very serious, if not fatal. Two hours later, Johnson groaned, "Take care of my boys" to Colonel Ewell. Seconds later, he was dead.
Howard Ravenscroft Johnson is survived by his wife, two children, and has lived on in the history of the 101st Airborne Division.
501st Parachute Infantry Regiment
The 501st Airborne Infantry Regiment is the first Airborne unit in the United States Military. It has been assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team , 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, and is located in Fort Richardson, Alaska, to serve as a strategic front to the Department of Defense's Pacific...
during the Second World War.
Early career
Howard Ravenscroft Johnson was born on June 18, 1903, in MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. His father was a shipbuilder in that state. Graduating from Central High School in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Johnson attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. 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 Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, Fort Sill
Fort Sill
Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, and in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, before returning to his home state of Maryland, where he would be posted at Fort Meade. 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 First Special Service Force, known as the "Black Devils." Colonel Johnson didn't think that it would ever be an effective fighting force. The Black Devils went on to fight in World War II, earning recognition for its nighttime raids behind the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
lines at Anzio Beach. Soon, his superiors gave him the opportunity to command another combat unit. It was called the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment
501st Parachute Infantry Regiment
The 501st Airborne Infantry Regiment is the first Airborne unit in the United States Military. It has been assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team , 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, and is located in Fort Richardson, Alaska, to serve as a strategic front to the Department of Defense's Pacific...
. The colonel accepted.
Commanding the 501st and Fighting in Normandy
After the regiment endured rigorous training at Camp ToccoaCamp Toccoa
Camp Toccoa was a United States Army paratrooper training camp during World War II west of Toccoa, Georgia. It was first planned in 1938, constructed by the Georgia National Guard and the Works Projects Administration beginning 17 January 1940, and was dedicated 14 December 1940. The U.S. Army...
and Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, it was sent to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
for military maneuvers. In January 1944, Colonel Johnson and the 501st Parachute Infantry sailed to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. By now, "Jumpy" Johnson had installed a positive attitude in them which led to a fighting spirit. The morale of the 501st stayed rather high the entire time Colonel Howard Johnson was with them and after he was gone. On D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, the 501st, now permanently attached to the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
was assigned to seize some canal locks and demolish the bridges over the Douve River. One battalion would be in the 101st Division reserve. When the men of the 'Geronimo Regiment' parachuted into Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, they were widely scattered. Johnson gathered a group of his men and as platoons and companies in the regiment got back together, they annihilated a battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
of German paratroopers guarding the canal locks. The 501st Regiment, led by Colonel Johnson, had a successful mission, even though in a way that General Dwight Eisenhower's planners never imagined. The 101st Division became the First Army reserve in July 1944, so after a month of fighting, the 501st Regiment was able to rest.
Battling in Holland
The 101st Airborne, including Colonel Johnson and his men, was ordered to seize 15 miles of highway, including several bridges, in Holland as part of the combined airborne/armored Operation Market GardenOperation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
. The 501st PIR landed and organized itself. Always among his men, Johnson provided an example of leadership in the battlefield as he led his men to seize their objectives and get into good positions once a British armored corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
linked up with them. Although part of Operation Market Garden failed, the 501st, led by "Jumpy" Johnson, had seized its objectives.
When the 101st Airborne Division dug in on the "Island" (a small strip of land between the Waal and Rhine Rivers), the 501st was subjected to mortar and artillery fire that killed and maimed many men. Colonel Johnson was able to keep the morale up and the regiment executed several successful patrols. On October 8, 1944, Johnson and his young executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel Julian Ewell, a West Point graduate, were visiting the front lines. Suddenly, some mortar shells hit the area. Men raced for cover and got down. Some of them were killed by the barrage. A large fragment hit the Colonel in the stomach. He fell to the ground. The medics knew that the wound was very serious, if not fatal. Two hours later, Johnson groaned, "Take care of my boys" to Colonel Ewell. Seconds later, he was dead.
Howard Ravenscroft Johnson is survived by his wife, two children, and has lived on in the history of the 101st Airborne Division.