Corporal Johnson was a member of the 2nd Airborne Ranger Company, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy near Majo-ri, South Korea on 14 January 1951.

Johnson was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, 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.