Seaman (E3) Johnson served aboard the heavy cruiser USS Saint Paul (CA-73). On 21 April 1952, while the cruiser was firing at the enemy off the east coast of Kojo Area, Korea, powder exploded in a gun turret killing him.

Johnson was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.