Army Spc. Matthew J. Johnson

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Matthew J. Johnson, 21, of Maplewood, Minn.

Spc. Johnson was assigned to the 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat Airborne), 20th Engineer Brigade (Combat), Fort Bragg, N.C.; died July 14, 2010 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his military vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Spc. Jesse D. Reed, Spc. Chase Stanley and Sgt. Zachary M. Fisher.

Spc. Matthew Johnson, 21, of Maplewood, was killed by a homemade bomb Tuesday in Lagman, Afghanistan, his family said in a statement.

Johnson was a member of the 18th Airborne Corps. His family said he was born and raised in Maplewood. He joined the Army in 2008.

"He attended North High School in (North) St. Paul and had a keen interest in hunting, fishing, snowboarding, skateboarding and basketball," they said.

Administrators at North did not immediately return calls seeking more information.

Spc. Matthew J. Johnson, 21 of Maplewood, Minn., enlisted in the Army in 2008 and was assigned to the 618th Eng. Spt. Co. He served as an engineer equipment operator and mine-resistant, ambush-protected operator during route-clearance operations. He served on one deployment to Afghanistan.

Additionally, Capt. Steven Holmberg, commander for the 618th Engineer Company, said Johnson was truly a critical part of the team.

“He had a vibrant personality that brightened everyone’s day, and he always worked to be the best at his job,” Holmberg said.

Johnson’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, and Driver Badge with Driver Wheeled Vehicles.

STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY OF SPC. MATTHEW JOHNSON ~~ Active Duty Army
Maplewood Soldier Died in Afghanistan on July 13 ~~

The Department of Defense has announced the combat death of Spc. Matthew
Johnson, 21, of Maplewood. Matthew served with the Ft. Bragg, North
Carolina-based 618th Engineer Company, 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer
Brigade of the 18th Airborne Corps. Spc. Johnson was killed during an
Improvised Explosive Device Attack in Lagman, Afghanistan on July 13.

The family respectfully requests that media honor their privacy during this
difficult time; specifically, the family does not wish to answer questions
from the press for the record. Editors and producers -- please do not assign
a reporter to visit or call the family home.

The family is providing a photo and following statement on Matthew:

"Matthew James Johnson was born and raised in Maplewood, Minnesota. He
attended North High School in St. Paul and had a keen interest in hunting,
fishing, snowboarding, skateboarding and basketball. Matthew joined the Army
in 2008 and was very proud to serve in the military. He will be deeply
missed by his mother, father, older brother and friend Katie Burns.
Thanks to all of our family and friends for keeping Matthew in your thoughts
and prayers during this difficult time."

Army Spc. Matthew J. Johnson was killed in action on 7/14/10.