Army Spc. Timothy L. Johnson

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Timothy L. Johnson, 24, of Randolph, N.Y.

Spc. Johnson was assigned to 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Sept. 16, 2010 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan.

Fort Carson soldier dies on first wedding anniversaryA Fort Carson soldier from Los Angeles was killed by a roadside bomb Thursday, on the first anniversary of his wedding day.

Spc. Timothy L. Johnson, 24, was pronounced dead at a hospital in Kandahar only hours after the attack.

"He deployed on my birthday and died on our anniversary," said Brittany Johnson of Colorado Springs.

The attack happened in the Arghandab River Valley in southern Afghanistan, the site of an Aug. 30 roadside bombing that claimed the lives of five of Johnson's comrades in the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

He joined the Army in November 2007. The Defense Department listed his hometown as Randolph, N.Y., but his wife said Johnson grew up in Los Angeles.

Johnson served an earlier deployment in Iraq that ended in March 2009. His decorations included the Army Commendation Medal.

Johnson and his wife, both creative writers, met through a blogging website. Their story began with mutual admiration, with each commenting on the other's thoughts and poems, then blossomed into what Brittany Johnson called "a true love story."

Brittany Johnson said she was struck by how Johnson's writing explored weighty topics - the nature of love, the meaning of death - yet in person he was joyful and laid back.

"When I think of him, all I can think of is how happy he was, and how happy he made others around him," she said. "I was in heaven with him. I still am. Even though he's gone, he's still with me. That will never go away."

Johnson is the ninth soldier from the 1st Brigade to die in the line of duty since the unit left for Afghanistan beginning in late July. He is the 59th soldier from post to die in Afghanistan. An additional 257 have died in Iraq.

RANDOLPH — Gov. David Paterson has directed that flags on all state government buildings be flown at half-staff Wednesday in honor of Army Spc. Timothy L. Johnson of Randolph, Cattaraugus County.

Timothy Johnson, 24, died Sept. 16 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

A former co-worker told WGRZ-TV that Johnson moved to Randolph from California when he was 18 and worked at a local truck stop before enlisting in the military. The co-worker said Johnson has a wife and child.

'Raider' Brigade remembers 'Iron Knight' Spc. Timothy Lamar Johnson (from their Facebook page) --

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The 'Raider' Brigade mourns the loss of one of our own, who was killed Thursday, 16 Sep. near the Arghandab river valley outside Kandahar City while on a joint patrol.

Spc. Timothy Lamar Johnson, a 24-year-old native of Randolph, N.Y., was assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

"Spc. Johnson was a great example of what all commanders look for in a Soldier," said Capt. David J. Ahern, commander, A Company, 1-66AR, 1BCT, 4th Inf. Div. "He would go out on long, exhausting patrols, then come back to the Combat Out Post and work just as long and hard on improving life around COP Winkleman with little to no direction from his chain of command."

Johnson enlisted in the Army as a Power Generation Equipment Repairer in November, 2007. He attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, S.C., then Advanced Individual Training at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Md. Upon completion of his training, Johnson reported to Fort Hood, Texas, where he was assigned to the 'Iron Knights' Battalion.

He received several awards since joining the Army in 2007;

Army Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star
Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star
Global War on Terrorism Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon

In March, 2008, he deployed to Iraq for 12 months with the 1-66AR. Upon the unit's return in 2009, the 'Iron Knight' Battalion was relocated from Fort Hood, Texas to Fort Carson, Colo. Upon arrival at Fort Carson, Johnson deployed to Afghanistan with the 'Iron Knights'.

"Johnson's willingness to work and desire to make life better for everyone around him will be sorely missed," said Ahern. "His attitude, innovation and sincere concern for his fellow Soldiers will be missed by everyone in Alpha Company."

"Timothy had a quiet confidence about him and never seemed to get rattled by anything," said Alpha Company 1st Sgt., Raymond Dakos. "Once we got over here to Afghanistan, the positive impact he had on the unit quickly became evident. He took it upon himself to begin repairing several broken generators around the COP, and fixed countless electrical problems on his own time, usually after returning from long, grueling combat patrols."

"The men of Alpha Company are deeply saddened by the loss of Spc. Johnson and will never forget his sacrifice," said Dakos. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Brittany, as well as his family, friends and fellow Soldiers of the 'Iron Knights' Battalion.

Spc.Johnson is survived by his wife, Brittany L. Johnson, his mother, Cheryl A. Johnson, his brother, Thomas Jenkins, and his sister, Tanisha.

Army Spc. Timothy L. Johnson was killed in action on 9/16/10.