Marine Gunnery Sgt Johnson was assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. He died while supporting combat operations. Edwin enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 1996. He was the husband of Tasha, and the father of three children. Edwin and other soldiers were out on a training mission with Afghan forces when they were hit. They were to search the village for weapons and then meet village elders under an agreement to establish government authority there. Insurgents had set up positions in the village and in the mountains on both sides and attacked as the men reached the first compound. "If we leave this house, the people in the house in front of us will shoot us," were the last words that Marine Staff Sgt Aaron Kenefick was heard calling into his radio before it went silent. Apparently, Edwin and Petty Officer 3rd Class James R. Layton were trying to apply medical aid to other wounded soldiers when they came under attack – bandage wrappings and other medical gear were strewn around Layton and Edwin when they were found.
Marine Gunnery Sgt Johnson was assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. He died while supporting combat operations. Edwin enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 1996. He was the husband of Tasha, and the father of three children. Edwin and other soldiers were out on a training mission with Afghan forces when they were hit. They were to search the village for weapons and then meet village elders under an agreement to establish government authority there. Insurgents had set up positions in the village and in the mountains on both sides and attacked as the men reached the first compound. "If we leave this house, the people in the house in front of us will shoot us," were the last words that Marine Staff Sgt Aaron Kenefick was heard calling into his radio before it went silent. Apparently, Edwin and Petty Officer 3rd Class James R. Layton were trying to apply medical aid to other wounded soldiers when they came under attack – bandage wrappings and other medical gear were strewn around Layton and Edwin when they were found.
