Ronald Lynn Johnson
“Old Soldiers Never Die, They Only Fade Away”
Ronald Lynn Johnson passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love and tears of his family and the dedicated staff at Ben Atchley Tennessee State Veterans Home. He was born at home on Park Road in Clinton on Feb. 7, 1941, to Corrina Mae (Wallace) Johnson and Henry Sherman Johnson, the youngest of six sons.
Ronald was a retired master sergeant in the U.S. Army with a 22-year career as an infantry paratrooper. He began his military service at age 15 with the Tennessee National Guard, and enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating from Clinton High School in 1958.
His 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 service took him across the globe, including assignments in Korea and multiple tours in Germany. During his first tour in Berlin, Germany, he met and married his wife of 49 years, Hedwig “Heda” (Knaus) Johnson.
Their first child, Hans-Jurgen, was born in Berlin; daughter Kyra was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and son Erick Andreas was born in Knoxville while Ronald was engaged in heavy fighting in Vietnam. Ronald embraced the German language and culture through his love for Heda, and he cherished the time spent with her family in Butzbach, Germany.
Ronald’s military honors include: National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Army Occupation Medal (Germany), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea), Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Purple Heart (for wounds received in action in Republic of 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 with First Oak Leaf Cluster for Heroism (Sept. 21, 1966, near Tuy Hoa, 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 the Good Conduct Medal.
Ron retired from Fort Bragg, his last military duty station to Andersonville in 1979, where he and Heda became active grandparents and built a welcoming home along the banks of the Clinch River much enjoyed by family and friends. They became active members of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He later worked for 10 years as an energy advisor for the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Ron believed that his military service would be his legacy, but those who knew him would say his greatest legacy lay in the deep bonds he formed with family and friends.
In addition to his parents and wife, Heda (1940–2013), he was preceded in death by his five brothers: Carl Lee Johnson (born 1925), Byron Trent Johnson (1926), George Wallace Johnson (1928), Roy Paul Johnson (1931), and Sherman Johnson Jr. (1933).
He is survived by his children, Hans-Jurgen Johnson, Kyra Johnson and Erick Andreas Johnson; five grandchildren, Joshua, Justin, Travis, Taylor and Aden; and nine great-grandchildren, Krissy, Jared, Jasada, Ally, Cole Wade, Heidi, Little Justin, Aunah and Summer.
Services will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3425 Andersonville Highway, Andersonville, TN, 37705, on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 11 a.m..
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the St. Joseph Catholic Church Columbarium Fund.
Arrangements are by Cremation Options, Inc., 865-6WE-CARE (693-2273), cremationoptionsinc.com.
