Theodore Knapp Johnson
"Ted" / "TK"
Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number O-13977
March 13, 1916
in Boston, MA
Oscar Burton Johnson (d. 1933)
Louisa C. (Knapp) Johnson
Newton High School (1934)
Dartmouth College (1939)
Salesman
W. T. Grant Company (Buffalo, NY)
February 16, 1942 (enlisted)
September 26, 1942 (commissioned)
at Quantico, VA
December 12, 1942
from Reserve Officers’ Class, Quantico
February 1, 1944
Wounded in action at Namur, evacuated
February 1, 1944
Died of wounds received in action
42 Judkins Street, West Newton, MA – home of brother, Mr. Charles F. Johnson
Service & Campaigns
Boot camp at Parris Island with First Recruit Battalion. Outposted to Naval Operating Base Norfolk, for further transfer to Marine Barracks, Naval Operating Base Balboa, Canal Zone. Departed Virginia on 9 April; arrived Balboa on 18 April.
Promoted to PFC on 10 July 1942; transferred to Quantico, VA for officer training. Commissioned with Company I, Candidates’ Class, on 26 September 1942. Completed training with Reserve Officers’ Class, Quantico.
Assigned to Company C, First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) on 12 December 1942. Appointed company executive officer on 8 July 1943.
Outfit: C/1/24th Marines
Rank: First Lieutenant
MOS: 2600 (Executive Officer)
Important Events:
February 1, 1944 – wounded in action at Namur (gunshot, right leg); evacuated to beach. Died of blood loss and shock en route to USS Bolivar.
Buried at sea, 9°18’50″N – 167°27’20″E.
Individual Decorations
Medal
Purple Heart
Campaign
Namur (Feb. 1, 1944)
Citation
Service Stories
Please share a story if you knew this Marine.
...when the mopping up was over, and the terns were again beginning to show luminous white against the darkening sky, we returned to the spot on the beach where we had spent the night before, and fell exhausted on the ground. Never have I been so weary – so drained of feeling. I heard that Ted had been killed – I had been very close to him, and two boys in my platoon – they were merely facts to be noted, not to feel.
