10/5/2010
SrA Daniel Johnson was born in Ely, Minnesota. He enlisted in the Air Force in November 2006 and graduated from NAVSCOLEOD graduated on Sept. 12, 2007. He was assigned to the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. SrA Johnson deployed for the first time in 2009 in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. After his return, he attended the U.S. Army Mountain Warfare course and graduated with honors. He deployed for his second time on Aug. 25, 2010 and was assigned to the 755th Air Expeditionary Squadron’s EOD Flight, Operating Location Bravo, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Operating from Combat Outpost Belanday, he cleared lines of communication, enabled freedom of maneuver, and ensured coalition and local national safety. While deployed, SrA Johnson was single-handedly responsible for saving the life of an Afghan National Army Soldier injured by a concealed booby-trap.
SrA Johnson’s personal awards include the Bronze Star with Valor, Purple Heart, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Combat Action Medal, and Air Force Good Conduct Medal.
SrA Johnson is survived by his wife, Kristen; mother, Holly Higgins; father, Jim Johnson; and brothers, Peter, Will and Erik.
To honor him, Vandenberg named a road and placed a monument at the base entrance.