SFC Allen Johnson

Allen C. Johnson was born on July 5th 1973 in Sun Valley, California. Allen loved school and in the fifth grade he was in the top one percent of his class. He was chosen out of 250 students to be involved in an advanced computer class. He went to Jordan Junior High School in Burbank, Ca. in which he took advanced placement and college preparatory classes.

In his spare time Allen liked to ride his horse, play sports and be artistic. His artistic abilities were putting classical model projects together. They included cars, airplanes and boats. He was very good at wood working and loved to paint.

Allen loved animals as a child. In high school he joined the Future Farmers of America. During FFA he raised market lambs and show rabbits. He also created an Almond harvesting project.

Allen was a very athletic young man. He had played baseball all his life and in high school he played football and track. Allen’s passion was the outdoors and the beauty of nature. He enjoyed four wheeling and being adventurous. Camping was always a must. Most trips consisted of hiking, fishing and swimming. Other activities he was passionate about were working out and jumping out of planes.

Whenever Allen stepped up to a new challenge, he faced it head on. Anything he did he did to the best and fullest of his abilities. Allen was not perfect but he tried to be. He was a very respectful and moral man. He had great respect for his parents, friends, and teachers. He would always go out of his way to help another. During his leave he would make it a point of visiting all his friends, teachers, and old neighbors. He was very active in his community, and never took any of them for granted.

He was accepted to Cal Poly University, but decided that the Army was right for him at that time. He enlisted to receive the money for school that veterans receive upon discharge. He went into the 101st Airborne Division, and then the infantry. At this time he met his first wife Christy, and was married in Louisiana. His first child was born soon after.

He became an M.P. while stationed in Kansas. That is when he decided to apply for the Special Forces. With a lot of work he passed the training, and was accepted into the Special Forces. He was involved in an automobile accident sustaining a severe shoulder injury soon after his acceptance and prior to the beginning of training. While recovering and waiting for further surgeries his first marriage ended.

A year and a half after his accident he was re-stationed in Fort Bragg, NC. He reached his goal of being a part of the Special Forces. He then married his second wife Vanessa. They have two children together.

After completing years of training he became a Medic in the Special Forces. The tours he completed were in Columbia and Nicaragua. In November of 2004, he was shipped to Afghanistan. While serving there he attended and graduated from Campbell University with a Bachelors Degree in Natural Sciences. After another tour of duty, he had planned to attend Duke University in order to become a Reconstructive Surgeon in the Army.

He was killed in action on April 26, 2005 in Khanaqin, Afghanistan. Allen was buried in the Los Molinos, California cemetery on Highway 99E. Allen’s parents still live in Los Molinos. His parents are Adriaantje and Ray Johnson. Ray adopted Allen at the age of four. Allen is also survived by his widow and three children. Allen was the best he could be and lived life “All the Way.” He died for the love of his country and to keep freedom alive.

Awards and Decorations

• Special Forces Tab
• Combat Medical Badge
• Expert Infantry Badge
• Parachutist Badge
• Joint Service Achievement Medal
• Army Achievement Medal (with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Army Good Conduct Medal (Bronze with 4 loops)
• National Defense Service Medal (Bronze Star)
• Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
• Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Number 2)
• Army Service.

Posthumous Awards

• Bronze Star Medal
• Purple Heart
• Meritorious Service Medal
• Combat Medical Badge (2nd award)
• Bronze Star Medal with “V” for Valor.