- SURNAME
Johnson
- FORENAME
Howard Ravenscroft ("Jumpy")
- UNIT
501 Parachute Infantry Regiment (Commanding Officer)
- RANK
Colonel
- NUMBER
0-016647
- DATE OF DEATH
8th October 1944
- AGE
41
- GRAVESITE
Arlington National Cemetery,Virginia Section 11 Site 79 SH
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Washington,D.C.
husband of Mary Johnson (2 children)
born 18.6.1903 Maryland
graduated Central High School,Washington,D.C.
attended Annapolis Naval Academy
left for USAAC pilot training (failed)
Army 1920s-30s
offered command of FSSF but turned it down
501 PIR (C.O.) November 1942
award Silver Star
WIA near Heteren,Holland
DOW 2 hours later
DATE OF DEATH:
08-Oct-1944AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/johnson-howard-ravenscroft.35663/CITATION:
COL Howard R. Johnson, Parachute Infantry, while serving with the Army of the United States, distinguished himself by gallantry in action. On 17 September 1944, he landed by parachute in Holland at the head of his regiment with the mission of seizing the crossings over the waterways in the vicinity of Veghel, Holland. He improvised a small combat group and rushed the enemy’s defense of the bridges in the area. Overcoming strong enemy resistance, he secured the bridges before the enemy could blow them and personally conducted the defense against enemy counterattacks. Through his aggressive leadership and courage, COL Johnson was an inspiration to all in his command and was instrumental in securing the bridges which were vital to the passage of the British Second Army. In a later action, COL Johnson was mortally wounded. His actions were in accordance with the highest standards of the military service.
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