Peter Wyeth Johnson
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

Peter Wyeth Johnson was born on 31 July 1944 in Cooperstown, NY, the son of Peter William Rochette and Florence Wyeth Johnson.

After high school graduation, Peter attended Harvard University for two years. In February 1965, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Following Basic and Advanced Individual Training, he attended Officer Candidate School and, at graduation, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in the U.S. Army Reserve. Peter then completed the Officer's Course at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, NC, graduating 12th in a class of 169. After additional specialized training, he deployed to Vietnam on 9 September 1967.

On 13 February 1968, First Lieutenant Peter Wyeth Johnson was serving with Detachment B-22, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in South Vietnam.

On that day, 1LT Johnson was serving as Senior Special Forces Advisor to a Vietnamese strike force platoon conducting a search and destroy mission in Binh Dinh Province. The unit was moving across open rice paddies when heavy automatic weapons fire erupted from a reinforced North Vietnamese company occupying well-fortified positions in a nearby hamlet. Withdrawing his troops from the fusillade, 1LT Johnson directed artillery and air strikes on the enemy positions. As the bombardment lifted, he rallied his men and led a fierce assault on the hamlet. A hail of bullets raked the exposed platoon, and 1LT Johnson withdrew his men and again requested artillery and air support. He then reorganized his troops and led a second assault through the hostile fire. While shouting encouragement and charging the fortified North Vietnamese bunkers, 1LT Johnson was hit by enemy fire and killed instantly. His leadership in close combat inspired his fellow soldiers to overrun and capture their objective. 1LT Johnson's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards, Badges & Tabs

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge Parachutist Badge
Special Forces Tab

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Peter Wyeth Johnson (0-5331906), First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Detachment B-22, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. First Lieutenant Johnson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 13 February 1968 while serving as senior Special Forces advisor to a Vietnamese strike force platoon conducting a search and destroy mission in Binh Dinh Province. The unit was moving across open rice paddies when heavy automatic weapons fire erupted on it from a reinforced North Vietnamese company occupying well-fortified positions in a nearby hamlet. Quickly withdrawing his troops from the savage fusillade, Lieutenant Johnson directed accurate artillery and air strikes on the enemy positions. As the bombardment lifted, he rallied his men and led a fierce assault on the hamlet. An intense hail of bullets raked the exposed platoon, and Lieutenant Johnson withdrew his men and again requested artillery and air support. He then reorganized his troops and fearlessly led a second assault through a curtain of hostile fire. While shouting encouragement and gallantly charging the fortified North Vietnamese bunkers, Lieutenant Johnson was hit by enemy fire and instantly killed. His determined and courageous leadership in close combat inspired his fellow soldiers to overrun and capture their objective. First Lieutenant Johnson's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 981 (March 4, 1968)

Honors

The name Peter W Johnson is located on Panel 39E Line 22 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

First Lieutenant Peter Wyeth Johnson is buried at Hillside Cemetery in Wilton, Fairfield County, CT.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=94100574