DOB/DOD:April 29, 1987 (Hartford, CT) – September 3, 2006; 19 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: Frew Terrace; Enfield
ENLISTMENT: 2004
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0317; Scout-Sniper; supplies
UNIT: Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment (Regional Combat Team 5), 2nd Marine Division; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
FAMILY: Born to Louis A. (1959-2018) and Katherine J. Titus Johnson (1964-). One half-sister, Jessica L. Titus Goodwin (1981-).
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Iraqi Campaign Medal with device, Navy Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal (Service), Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and the National Defense Service Medal.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Lance Corporal Johnson died while conducting combat operations in Habbaniyah (near Ramadi), Iraq. He was killed on the same date as fellow Connecticut native Army Private First Class Nicholas A. Madaras.
Enfield High School; Class of 2005
From The Republican (Springfield, MA) on September 6, 2006
ENFIELD MARINE KILLED IN IRAQ
ENFIELD – A 19-year-old Marine from Enfield was killed in Iraq over the weekend, a family friend confirmed last night. Lance Corporal Philip Alexander Johnson died Sunday morning with one other Marine as his unit was traveling from Ramadi, family spokesman Ron Jackman said. Ramadi, about 70 miles west of Baghdad, is considered one of Iraq’s most dangerous cities and is patrolled by hundreds of Marines. The Marines are confined to bases during the day and return to the streets at night. His parents, Louis and Kathy Johnson, were notified by the military Sunday night, Jackman said. Jackman said Johnson apparently was killed in a roadside attack. A Pentagon spokesman said more information on the details of his death would be released today. The Department of Defense policy is to make details available 24 hours after the family has been notified. Johnson is the second Marine from Connecticut to die in Iraq in just over a week. Corporal Jordan Pierson, 21, of Milford, was killed on August 25. A memorial service for Pierson was held yesterday. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. A 2005 graduate of Enfield High School, Johnson was fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a Marine, said those who knew him. He joined the Westover Young Marines when he was 11 and remained with the unit through high school. Once he joined the Marines after high school, Johnson moved through the ranks quickly. He received his basic training in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, then trained with a scout sniper unit. He arrived in Iraq on July 14. “To attain Lance Corporal, that takes some doing,” Jackman said. “He made an impression. He was excited to go to Iraq.” Funeral services are pending. There have been 33 servicemen and civilians with Connecticut ties who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2002. Johnson is the second serviceman from Enfield to die in the war. As news of his death spread, friends gathered to remember a young man with goals and a drive to help people.
From The Republican (Springfield, MA) on September 7, 2006
VICTIM LOVED BEING A MARINE
ENFIELD – From the time he was a boy, Philip Alexander Johnson dreamed of being a Marine, and when he was old enough, he wasted little time before enlisting, friends recalled. Less than two months after he arrived in Iraq, the 19-year-old Enfield man died a Marine near one of the most dangerous cities in that war-torn country. Lance Corporal Johnson was killed Sunday morning with one other Marine as his unit was traveling from Ramadi, said family spokesman Ron Jackman of Longmeadow. Ramadi, about 70 miles west of Baghdad, is patrolled by hundreds of Marines. The Marines are confined to bases during the day and return to the streets at night. Daytime foot patrols are limited because of the threat of skilled snipers or roadside bombs. Jackman said Johnson apparently was killed in a roadside attack. His parents, Louis and Kathy Johnson, were notified by the military Sunday night. Johnson was the younger of their two children. His 25-year-old sister is a member of the Army Reserves, Jackman said. Many friends and neighbors of Johnson’s received notice of his death during a prayer circle Monday at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, where the Johnson family worships. The Rev. Michael J. Coons, the pastor of the church who baptized and confirmed Johnson in the Christian faith, recalled the Marine as an active member of the church who was committed to his faith. “We always enjoyed talking about our Lord and savior,” Coons said. He was remembered by others as a young man with goals and a drive to help people. “All he wanted to do was be in the Marine Corps,” childhood friend Jordan Meyer said. “I’m really proud of him. He’s one person who actually did what they said they were going to do in life.” Johnson is the second Marine from Connecticut to die in Iraq in just over a week. Corporal Jordan Pierson, 21, of Milford, was killed on August 25. A memorial service for Pierson was held Monday. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery later this week. A 2005 graduate of Enfield High School, Johnson joined the Westover Young Marines, a youth education and service program, when he was 11 and remained with the unit through high school. Edward C. Mitrook, commanding officer of the Westover Young Marines detachment and a retired Marine Corps sergeant major, said Johnson touched a lot of lives during his short tenure as a Marine. “He probably thought he didn’t, but he did,” Mitrook said. Once he joined the Marines, Johnson moved through the ranks quickly. He received his basic training in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, then trained with a scout sniper unit. He arrived in Iraq on July 14. “To attain lance corporal, that takes some doing,” Jackman said. “He made an impression. He was excited to go to Iraq.” Funeral services are pending.
From The Hartford Courant on September 17, 2006
By Rachana Rathi | Courant Staff Writer
A FALLEN MARINE AT REST
Hundreds In Enfield Honor A Slain Lance Corporal From The Close-Knit Town
Philip A. Johnson’s Boyhood Friends Are The Last To Leave The Cemetery
ENFIELD – It was a silent goodbye until the end. Silence as hundreds of people gathered under an overcast sky to watch the casket of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Philip A. Johnson arrives at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Enfield. Silence as the casket, draped with an American flag, was carried out of the church by fellow Marines and laid upon a horse-drawn hearse. Silence as the procession of family and friends, neighbors, and strangers walked a quarter-mile down North Street to Hazardville Cemetery, past the tombstones to the blue canopy covering the burial plot. Then, after the afternoon ceremony was over and the hundreds of mourners had shuffled back to their cars, came the sobs. It was like a collective recognition among Johnson’s oldest and closest friends — this was their final goodbye to the 19-year-old gentleman with one brown eye and one blue eye who could make anyone laugh, the one who achieved his childhood dream of becoming a Marine. “The last thing he said to me, I remember: It was, ‘I can’t wait to go to Iraq and fight for my country,’” said Justin Gelgat, an 18-year-old aspiring Marine, whom Johnson mentored when the two served in a Young Marines detachment at Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts. Before he left for Iraq, Johnson prepared a list — just in case. In it, he asked seven childhood friends to do something that would represent the bond they shared. They chose to make armbands out of his Young Marines uniform. Johnson served with a weapons company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He died on September 2 when a roadside bomb detonated as his unit traveled from Ramadi to Habbaniyah. He became the second Enfield serviceman and second Enfield Marine to die in Iraq. He didn’t want his friends to worry about his deployment, and during the last day they spent together in Enfield, he got a tattoo, and they all reminisced about the good times. This week, two of those friends got tattoos of Johnson in uniform — one brown eye, one blue — and the buddies reminisced again. They visited his parents, Louis and Kathy Johnson, at their Frew Street home and told them about the mischief that they had gotten away with — silly pranks like turning off or changing the channels and the unsuspecting and perplexed neighbors, and even more serious capers. “He said he had a lot of stories to tell me,” recalled Jordan Meyer about what his close friend said to him in a five-minute phone conversation from Iraq. “Never get to hear them now.” Earlier this week, the community said its goodbyes after a motorcade brought Johnson’s remains from the airport to his alma mater, Enfield High School, past the family’s home, and to the funeral chapel for a six-hour wake. But his close friends said their goodbyes last. They lingered at the cemetery near the casket until they were asked to leave.
From The Hartford Courant on September 12, 2006
Lance Corporal Philip Alexander Johnson, 19, departed his earthly life on Sunday (September 3, 2006) while on active duty serving his country honorably in Iraq since July 14, 2006. He was born on April 29, 1987, in Hartford, the beloved son of Louis and Kathy (Titus) Johnson. Philip was a graduate of Enfield High School Class of 2005. He was involved with the wrestling team during his Junior year. He was a member of Voices Incorporated, a choral program that integrated both Enfield High Schools. He enjoyed music tremendously and played several instruments, including saxophone, drums, keyboards, and bass guitar. His musical idol was Paul McCartney, who he got to see in concert. Philip’s love for his country was strong and true. He wanted nothing more than to be a Marine from the time he knew what a Marine was. There is a certain pride in a Marine’s eye very early on in life, and he had that pride. Philip was heavily involved with the Westover Young Marines. He joined in 1998, achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant, and was honorably discharged in July 2005. He took his duties very seriously. Philip left for Parris Island in August 2005. During boot camp, he achieved the position of Squad Leader and Platoon Guide. He graduated from Parris Island on October 17, 2005, with the rank of Private First Class and quickly earned the rank of Lance Corporal. He was stationed in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he trained with the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Scout Sniper Weapons Unit. Shortly after arriving in Iraq, he transferred to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines. Lance Corporal Johnson’s personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and National Defense Medal. Besides his parents, Philip is survived by his loving family; a sister, Jessica Titus of Vernon; maternal grandmother, Beverly (Robidoux) Titus; maternal great-grandmother, Doris (Riendeau) Robidoux, both of South Windsor; uncle, Bill Johnson of E. Windsor and aunt Josephine Johnson both of East Windsor; cousins Mary Margaret and Dana Medling both of Waterford, cousin Seaman William Johnson and his wife, Missy stationed in Kings Bay, GA, auntie Anne Titus Honn and uncle Rick Honn and two cousins Jacob and Andrew of Silver Spring, MD, uncle Paul Titus of East Windsor and cousin Jimanie Titus of Enfield, uncle Andy Titus and auntie Lori and two cousins, Joe and Jonathan of East Windsor, many, many friends and of course his Marine Brothers. Philip was predeceased by his maternal grandfather, Richard J. Titus, and paternal grandparents, William L. and Helen (Plona) Johnson. Funeral services for Philip will be held on Friday, September 15, at 2 p.m. in the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, 20 North Street, Enfield, with Pastor Michael Coons officiating. Interment with full military honors will take place in the Hazardville Cemetery, Enfield. Philip’s family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, September 14, from 2-8 p.m. at Browne Memorial Funeral Chapels, 43 Shaker Road, Enfield. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be made to Westover Young Marines (co) Edward Mitrook, 51 Terry Ln, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. All donations should be made out to: “LCpl Philip Johnson Memorial Fund.”
Memorialized on a monument in front of Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut.
Lance Corporal Johnson is buried in New Hazardville Cemetery, Martin Terrace, Hazardville, Connecticut; Section D, Lot 267.
