Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: C Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 23-Jun-1946
Hometown: Alexandria, Ohio
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 8-Nov-1965
Start of tour: 23-Jun-1965
Incident date: 21-Nov-1966
Date of casualty: 21-Nov-1966
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Ray Ellsworth Johnson died on 21 Nov 1966 in Vietnam as the result of gunshot wounds to the chest, right shoulder and neck received in hostile ground action.
Five Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
PFC Russell Louis Halley
SP4 Ray Ellsworth Johnson
SP4 Wallace James Malone
PFC Harry Lee Powers
SP4 Jimmy Linwood Rhodes
Location of fatality: South Vietnam
Place of interment: Maple Grove Cemetery, Alexandria, Ohio, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR RAY ELLSWORTH JOHNSON
21 NOVEMBER 1966
C TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Johnson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 November 1966 while serving at a listening post in defense of a Special Forces camp. Outside the perimeter of the camp, Specialist Four Johnson was instructed to fire one shot upon hearing sounds of Viet Cong approaching, and to return immediately to the bunkers in the camp. Detecting movements in the jungle before him, he relayed his warning to his unit and was preparing to move back into the perimeter of camp when he was mortally wounded by Viet Cong fire. Specialist Four Johnson’s personal bravery and devotion to duty 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, United States Army Vietnam General Orders No. 6786 (12 December 1966)