PVT Teddy T. Johnson
We honor and remember PVT Teddy Theodore Johnson of the 101st Airborne Signal Company.
Private (PVT) Teddy Theodore Johnson of the 101st Airborne Signal Company was born in McDowell County, West Virginia, to William W. and Villia (Farley) Johnson on May 28, 1924. He had three brothers, Clyde W., James E., and Earl C. Johnson.
Teddy registered for the draft in Washington, D.C. on June 30, 1942. At the time, he was employed by the Department of Commerce on Constitution Avenue in D.C. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on October 6, 1943, at Fort Myer, Virginia.
He traveled from the Induction Station at Ft Myer to Ft George Meade, Maryland, the next day. On November 2, he traveled by train to the Infantry Replacement Training Center at Camp Blanding, Florida, where he would receive his basic and field communication training.
On March 18, 1944, he returned to Fort George Meade, where he was put on an outgoing transport bound for England. On April 19, he was assigned to a Field Force Replacement Depot, Casual Detachment #10, in Chard, Somerset, England. PVT Teddy Johnson would then be assigned to the 17th Replacement Depot at Hinton St. George, Somerset, before finally joining 101st Signal Company at Newbury, Berkshire, on June 23, 1944.
On September 17, 1944, the day Operation Market Garden started, PVT Johnson left England on a WACO glider, taking off from Ramsbury Airfield in the morning, heading for a landing zone near Son, the Netherlands. 2nd LT Scott T. Stewart was the glider pilot. Others aboard were PFC Gerald J. Hauswirth, PVT James Crifo, PVT Roy G. Millican, and PVT Alvin L. Jewell of the 101st Airborne Signal Company, as well as CPL Harold Spence of the British Royal Corps of Signals.
While flying over Belgium, the towing cable broke near Geel. The glider dropped quickly, but the pilot was able to find a suitable meadow at Retie, and despite brushing several tree tops during the descent, all passengers survived the crash landing. As their landing area was close to the frontline, the area was infested with Germans, and when the men tried to leave the field, they were engaged by the enemy. A fierce firefight ensued with their opponents, in which two of the men were killed. One of them is PVT Teddy Johnson.
Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅
VT Johnson died at 20 years of age in Belgium on September 17, 1944. The remains of the two airborne casualties were first buried by civilians near the spot where they were killed. Their graves were marked with little wooden crosses. Passing British troops added bigger crosses, marked with the words “British Soldier.” In 1945, a British unit was sent to collect the bodies of all casualties in the area, Allied and German. In all probability, the remains of the two 101st Airborne Signal Company troopers were handed over to the American authorities.
PVT Johnson was then buried at the temporary military facility of Neuville-En-Condroz, Liege, Belgium, at Block GG, Row 11, Grave 252. He would later be again reburied, and he rests eternally at the Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupré, Belgium, at Block C, Row 9, Grave 35.
PVT Teddy Johnson was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart Medal.
Happy Birthday in Heaven, Teddy.
Lest we forget! 🇺🇸
Sources:
FindaGrave
Family Search
NARA
Fields of Honor
Other sources used for this article are known to the author and available on request.
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God Speed Teddy🫡🇺🇸🫡