Ronald L. Johnson

Ronald Lynn Johnson passed away peacefully surrounded by the love and tears of his family and caring and dedicated staff of Ben Atchley Tennessee State Veterans Home.

Mr. Johnson was born at home on Park Road in Clinton on Feb. 7, 1941, to Corrina Mae (Wallace) Johnson and Henry Sherman Johnson. He was the youngest of six boys.

Mr. Johnson was a retired master sergeant in the U.S. Army, with a 22-year career as an infantry paratrooper. He began military service at the young age of 15 with the Tennessee National Guard and enlisted in the Army upon graduation from Clinton High School in 1958.

Mr. Johnson’s military career included combat tours with the 82nd Airborne Division in the Dominican Republic in 1965 and with the 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles) in Vietnam in 1965 and 1966. His military career took him from Clinton to the far corners of the world, including assignments in Korea and multiple tours to Germany.

It was during his first tour while stationed in Berlin, Germany, that he met and then married his wife of 49 years, Hedwig (Heda) Knaus. Their first son, Hans-Jurgen, came into the world in Berlin. Daughter Kyra was born in Fort Bragg, N.C., and son Erick Andreas was born in Knoxville while Mr. Johnson was engaged in heavy fighting in Vietnam.

As a result of his love for Heda, Mr. Johnson adopted the German culture and language as his own. Some of his fondest memories were made with Mrs. Johnson’s family in Butzbach, Germany.

Mr. Johnson’s military decorations and medals include: National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Army Occupational Medal (Germany), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea), Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Purple Heart (for wounds received in action in Vietnam on May 11, 1966), Army Commendation Medal for Heroism (for exceptionally valorous action on May 11, 1966, near Bu Gia Map, Republic of Vietnam), Army Commendation Medal for Heroism, First Oak Leaf Cluster (for exceptionally valorous action on Sept. 21, 1966, near Tuy Hoa, Republic of Vietnam), Bronze Star Medal (for meritorious service in connection with ground operations against a hostile force, Republic of Vietnam, Jan. 1-Nov. 11, 1966), Expert Infantryman Badge, and Good Conduct Medal.

Mr. Johnson retired from Fort Bragg, his last military duty station, to Andersonville, Tenn., in 1979, where Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became active grandparents and built a welcoming home along the banks of the Clinch River.

They became active members of St. Joseph Parish in Norris.

Post military retirement, he worked as an energy adviser for TVA for 10 years.

Mr. Johnson believed that his military service would be his legacy; and yet, clearly, his legacy is the bond he forged with family and friends.

Mr. Johnson is preceded in death by his parents, his five brothers: Carl Lee, Byron Trent, George Wallace, Roy Paul, and Sherman Jr., and his wife, Heda.

He is survived by his three children; five grandchildren, Joshua, Justin, Travis, Taylor, and Aden; and nine great-grandchildren, Krissy, Jared, Jasada, Ally, Cole Wade, Heidi, Little Justin, Aunah, and Summer.

A funeral Mass for Mr. Johnson was held at St. Joseph Church on May 17. The family requests that contributions in Mr. Johnson’s memory be made to the St. Joseph Church columbarium fund.