Johnson had wanted to be a Marine since he was 8 years old. He enlisted in 1965, five months after graduating from South Philadelphia High School, despite his mother's strong opposition. In Johnson's last letter home from Vietnam, he asked for his favorite cake and his W-2 form so he could figure his income taxes. The 20-year-old lance corporal, a rifleman, was assigned to Company C of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He died near Duc Pho, Quang Ngai Province, on Feb. 25, 1967. Survivors included his mother and sister.