ALAN HOWARD JOHNSON
Specialist 5th Class, Combat Aviation Crew Chief
281st Assault Helicopter Company
From: South Ozone Park, New York
Born: May 2nd, 1948
Tour of duty began on January 14, 1969
Killed in action on February 6th, 1970
in Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam
when his Helicopter was shot down.
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SP5 Alan Howard Johnson was a 21
year old single soldier from South Ozone Park,
New York. His mother, Mrs. Loretta Johnson and his father, Mr.
Linwood Johnson still reside in the area. Alan was born in Ozone
Park and grew up in the area. In his early years he had a wide
circle of friends and was known by his family and friends as a caring
individual who was respected by all.
Alan attended New York public schools and
graduated from Franklin K. Lane High School. He was a good student
excelling in both basketball and football. After school he could
normally be found at home playing pinochle with his friends. As soon as
he was old enough he purchased a car which he took great care of and
allowed no one else to drive it.
Following high school Alan found the New York job
market to be tight and he gave up his job as a truck driver and joined
the US Army so that he could assist his family financially. By
joining the army, he felt that he could help support his family and
provide a better life for his siblings.
Alan
completed basic training as an infantry rifleman and was sent to
Vietnam, arriving in September of 1968. He was assigned to
the 198th Infantry Brigade where he remained until January of
1969. During combat operations with the 198th he earned the
coveted Combat Infantryman's Badge. In January of 1969 he was
transferred to the 281st Assault Helicopter Company for duty as a
combat aviation door gunner. From January until May of 1969
Alan applied himself to the task of becoming a helicopter crew chief and
on May 6, 1969 he was awarded the official designation of Crew Chief.
Alan progressed within the 281st and on November 21st of 1969 was promoted
to the rank of Specialist Fifth Class (E-5). In the 281st he was
awarded the silver wings of a Combat Aviation Crew Member along
with several other awards. However, Alan's most important
achievement was the high level of respect that his peers and superiors
had for him as an individual and for the outstanding manner that he
performed his duties as a combat aviation crew member. Today, Alan
Howard Johnson is remembered for being one of the highest skilled and
respected combat aviation crew chiefs that served in the unit.
On February 6,
1970 Alan was killed while flying a combat aviation mission in
UH-1H 68-1625 which was lost as a result of hostile action at Binh Dinh,
South Vietnam. Also lost in the crash were SP5 Frank M. Kaiser, who
Allan was training to be a crew chief, and Warrant Officer Tarry T.
O'Reilly, pilot. Warrant Officer Ron Lesonik, the Aircraft
Commander was severally injured in the crash but survived.
Alan, Frank and Tarry shall not be forgotten.
From Mike Fellenz [now deceased]:
When I arrived at the 281st, I
was assigned to the 2nd Platoon as a Door Gunner on #455 with
Alan Johnson as my CE. Alan was one of the nicest guys I have ever met. He was second to
none when it came to his job and doing it well. He taught me everything I
know about being a Gunner and CE. Alan took me under his wing and made sure I knew everything
necessary to do my job while supporting Project Delta. But being my mentor and
my friend is not everything Alan gave me, you see, Alan Johnson took my
place on the last mission he flew. And that is something I think about
everyday of my life.
Go Intruders
Mike Fellenz
Bandits 69-70
From Bob Mitchell [now deceased]:
Hardly a day goes by now that I don't think about
Alan Johnson. Alan crewed 455, a great aircraft, that he kept in
immaculate shape. We flew together quite a bit and became friends
despite our rank difference. Alan was an outstanding person that
was loved by all. He was an excellent Door Gunner and Crew
Chief that could always be counted upon to do whatever it took to
get the mission done.
Ron Lesonik and I were the Aircraft Commanders
on an operation that required two aircraft and crews being loaned to
another company north of Nha Trang. We had been there a couple of
days flying missions in the area around Tuy Hoa and the area north
of Qui Nhon when Lesonik's aircraft was shot down by .51 Cal
automatic weapon fire. Everyone on board was lost except Lesonik
and he was injured very badly.
The deaths of Alan Johnson and Frank Kaiser
hit everyone in the unit pretty hard. It was a great loss for all
of us.
From Jeffrey Murray [tamu73@sbcglobal.net]:
In my days with the Bandit Platoon I
probably remember flying with Alan more than any other
crewmember. I'm not sure why I remember him so well, and
it would be easy to say it was due to his professionalism and
attention to detail. However, it is probably because on
January 21, 1969 Alan was crewing UH-1H 17360 when we got the
call to rescue a RECONDO team in contact. Approaching the
LZ the aircraft was struck with a full burst of automatic rifle
fire, and two rounds hit the recovery sergeant, SSG Marvin Gies.
SP4 Johnson immediately went to his aid, applying more first aid
than I knew in an attempt to save his life, but it was in vain,
and SSG Gies died shortly after we got him to the Nha Trang
hospital. He was as calm and soldierly as I have ever seen
someone react under such circumstances. I subsequently
left the Bandits to go to Wolf Pack; but of all the crewmembers
from my old platoon the one I kept in the closest contact with
was Alan. We always seemed to have something
to say to each other whenever we passed on the flight line or in
the field during a Delta deployment. A few of us got
medals for that mission, I got mine 6 months after I DEROS'ed,
so I don't know if Alan ever got his. He deserved it.
I miss him and those like him. The world is a lesser place
without him and the 281st was a better organization because of
him.
~Jeff Murray, Wolf Pack 33, 1968-69
From Don Budlong
Today in the mail [August 19, 2022], I received a calendar from the VietNam Memorial Fund. Browsing through it I found on the month of May our own Alan Johnson [same picture above, green uniform]. Alan was good friend and I distinctly remember August 12, 1969 when on a test flight for the 21st Signal (next door to the 281st), we lost an engine and went down in the Nha Trang River. We were on land when Alan's ship was the first to arrive on scene. He came running to help and when he saw me he said, "what the hell are you doing here"? Fortunately for us no injuries but they flew us to the 8th field hospital for a check up and to dry out. That was the last image of Alan that I will never forget. He was a good man and I will never forget him. I had a good cry before I could hit the send button.
~Don
SP5 Alan Johnson's personal information and pictures
were obtained by
Lawrence Harris, who is in touch with his parents.
Click here to contact
Lawrence Harris
Long Island National Cemetery, New York.
A MAN IS NOT DEAD UNTIL HE IS FORGOTTEN
ONCE AN INTRUDER ... ALWAYS AN INTRUDER