LTC John T. Johnson Jr. USA(Retired)

Cullum: 25941


Class: 1965


Cadet Company: E1


Date of Birth: March 25, 1943


Date of Death: April 20, 2020


Died in: Columbia, SC


Interred: ARP Bethel Cemetery, Winnsboro, SC - View or Post a Eulogy


Medals

John T. Johnson Jr.John Tilson Johnson Jr., of Winnsboro, SC, died April 20, 2020. He was the eldest child of Ernestine Sanders Johnson and John Tilson Johnson Sr. John was born March 25, 1943 in Winnsboro while his father was serving in the 36th Infantry Division. He was born in the manse of the Bethel Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, where his grandfather was pastor.

His lifelong passion for sports was rooted in a happy childhood spent playing every sport available. He played football and baseball during his high school years at Mount Zion Institute and then at Winnsboro High School, where he was a member of the first graduating class in 1961. Highlights of these years were winning state football championships in 1958 and 1959, as well as a state baseball championship in 1960.

John was recruited by a number of colleges for football. This process included a personal visit by legendary Clemson Tigers Coach Frank Howard. But John’s heart was set on West Point, where he played for beloved Coach Paul Dietzel. The capstone of his time on the Black Knights team was the 1964 Army-Navy Game. John played both offense and defense for all but a brief break, and the Army team defeated a strong midshipmen squad quarterbacked by 1963 Heisman winner Roger Staubach. Then, as a demonstration of his outstanding skill, he was selected to play in the North-South Shriners All-American Game in Miami’s Orange Bowl. That game included such luminaries as Gale Sayers, Dick Butkus, and Staubach. Another highlight from his West Point years was hearing General of the Army Douglas MacArthur’s 1962 “Duty, Honor, Country” speech to the Corps of Cadets. The inspiring legacy of the Academy’s leadership as well as the enduring friendships formed with classmates remained with John always.

Following graduation from West Point on June 9, 1965, John married his high school sweetheart, Mary Baker Coleman. He completed Airborne and Ranger schools soon after, having selected Infantry as his branch of service. His first assignment was with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC.

John served two tours in Vietnam: the first,1967-68, as an advisor to the Vietnamese 2nd Airborne Battalion; the second, 1969-70, in the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was awarded a Silver Star for gallantry in action and three Bronze Stars for heroism in ground combat.

After Vietnam, John coached the West Point Plebe Football Team for three years before continuing a military career that would ultimately amount to 24 years of service. Subsequent assignments included the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning, GA; a staff position again with the 82nd Airborne Division; postings in Landstuhl and Mannheim, Germany; the Command and General Staff College Course at Fort Leavenworth, KS; and work in Special Operations for the Atlantic Command at Fort Bragg. After a final tour of duty at the Pentagon, John retired from the Army in 1989 as a lieutenant colonel.

Civilian life afforded John and Mary additional happy time in Vienna, VA. John worked seven years as a defense contractor before he and Mary returned to Winnsboro in 1996 to live at Tokaylon, John’s childhood home from the age of 10 and a cherished locale for family gatherings. John enjoyed completing an MBA at the University of South Carolina in 1999. Perhaps most significant was John’s dedicated commitment to solid Biblical theology and his involvement with the Bethel ARP Church. As a faithful and steadfast servant of the Lord, he held leadership roles, was a passionate Sunday School teacher, and eventually superintendent.

John shared with his family his love of sports, including a post-football fondness of running and tennis. The family occasionally offered serious and contentious competition from across the net. John also loved good writing. He was a quoter of Shakespeare, a magnificent letter-writer, and an occasional poet. He leaves behind delightful, witty poems that marked special events and countless letters offering encouragement, congratulations, and sympathy. Also cherished are the specific memories, untainted by jealousy, of his status as the household favorite of pets, canine and feline. He had a tender heart for the wild birds.

Affectionately called “Didah” by his nine grandchildren, he was known as a master waffle chef. On beach trips Didah delighted the grandchildren with post-bicycling plunges into the ocean wearing his Bermuda shorts and t-shirt.

John bore his health concerns of the later years with no complaint; his lifelong gentlemanly stoicism, grace, and good humor did not waver. John and Mary were married 55 years. Their children are Martha O’Carroll, Helen Denny, and John Tilson Johnson III, USMA Class of 1997. John’s sister is Martha Johnson Strain, and his brothers are Laurens Ellis Johnson and Elliott Ridgeway Johnson. Brother Oliver Rhett Johnson, USMA Class of 1968, died one month before John, on March 20, 2020.

John’s passing drew incredible words so indicative of his absolute first-rate character and most honorable legacy. His uncompromising devotion to his native state of South Carolina and, in particular, Fairfield County was prominent in his lifetime.

Well Done revered husband, father, brother, teammate, classmate, roommate.

Rest in Peace.

— Family and classmates

Obituary

John Tilson Johnson, Jr., of Winnsboro, South Carolina, died April 20, 2020. Eldest child of Ernestine Sanders Johnson and John Tilson Johnson, Sr., John was born March 25, 1943, in Winnsboro when his father was serving in the 36th Infantry Division. He was born in the manse of the Bethel ARP Church, where his grandfather was pastor.

His lifelong passion for sports was rooted in a happy childhood spent playing every sport available. He played football and baseball during his high school years at Mount Zion Institute and then at Winnsboro High School, where he was a member of the first graduating class in 1961. Highlights of these years were winning State Football Championships in 1958 and 1959 and a State Baseball Championship in 1960.

John was recruited by a number of colleges for football, but his heart was set on West Point, where he played for beloved coach Paul Dietzel. The capstone of his time on the Black Knights team was the 1964 Army-Navy game. Cadet Johnson played both offense and defense for all but a brief break, and the Army team defeated a strong Midshipmen team quarterbacked by Roger Staubach. Another highlight from his West Point years was hearing General MacArthur's 1962 "Duty, Honor, Country" speech to the Corps of Cadets. The inspiring legacy of the Academy's leadership as well as the enduring friendships formed with classmates remained with John always.

Following graduation from West Point in June 1965, John married his high school sweetheart, Mary Baker Coleman, also of Winnsboro. He completed Airborne and Ranger Schools soon after, having chosen the infantry as his branch of service. His first assignment was with the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, NC.

John served two tours in Vietnam: the first, 1967-1968, as an advisor to the Vietnamese 2nd Airborne Battalion; the second, 1969-1970, in the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was awarded a Silver Star for Gallantry in Action and three Bronze Stars for Heroism in Ground Combat.

After Vietnam, John coached the West Point plebe football team for three years before continuing a military career that would ultimately amount to twenty-four years of service. Subsequent assignments included the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning, GA; a staff position again with the 82nd Airborne Division; postings in Landstuhl and Mannheim, Germany; the Command and General Staff College Course at Fort Leavenworth, KS; and work in Special Operations for the Atlantic Command at Fort Bragg. After a final tour of duty at the Pentagon, John retired from the army in 1989 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Civilian life afforded John and Mary additional happy years in Vienna, VA. John worked seven years as a defense contractor before he and Mary returned to Winnsboro in 1996 to live at Tokaylon, John's childhood home from the age of ten and cherished locale for family gatherings. John enjoyed completing an MBA at the University of South Carolina in 1999. He was a steadfast servant of Bethel ARP Church, active in many leadership roles as well as in the Sunday School as superintendent and dedicated teacher.

John shared with his family his love of sports, including post-football passions of running and tennis. His family even occasionally offered serious and contentious competition from across the net. John also loved good writing--he was a quoter of Shakespeare, a magnificent letter-writer, and occasional poet. He leaves behind delightful, witty poems that marked special events and countless letters offering encouragement, congratulations, and sympathy. Also cherished are the memories, untainted by jealousy, of his status as household favorite of pets, canine and feline. And his tender heart for the wild birds and animals that frequented his home will always be fondly remembered.

Affectionately called "Didah" by his grandchildren, he was known as a master waffle chef, awake before everyone and ready with waffles and bacon. He permitted lavish toppings of syrup, powdered sugar, or both. On beach trips, Didah delighted the grandchildren with post-bicycling plunges into the surf wearing shorts and t-shirt. John bore his health concerns of recent years with no complaint; his lifelong gentlemanly stoicism, grace, and good humor did not waver.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary; daughters Martha O'Carroll (Nicholas) and Helen Denny; son John Tilson Johnson, III (Kristie Greco); grandchildren Liam, George, and John O'Carroll; Fred, Mary, James, and Martha Denny; and Louise and John Johnson; sister Martha Johnson Strain (Samuel Butler); brothers Laurens Ellis Johnson and Elliott Ridgeway Johnson; uncle Rhett Sanders, Sr. (Virginia); and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.

His brother Oliver died a month before John on March 20. A memorial service for John and Oliver will be held at a later date. A private graveside service for John will take place Friday, April 24.

The family thanks the staff of NHC Parklane, Columbia, for their care and kindness to John over the past three years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel ARP Church, P.O. Box 639, Winnsboro, SC 29180.

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