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The Battle of Kwajalein was fought as part of the Pacific campaign of World War II. It took place from 31 January-3 February 1944, on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Employing the hard-learned lessons of the battle of Tarawa, the United States launched a successful twin assault on the main islands of Kwajalein in the south and Roi-Namur in the north. The Japanese defenders put up stiff resistance, although outnumbered and under-prepared. The determined defense of Roi-Namur left only 51 survivors of an original garrison of 3,500. Marines suffered 206 killed, 617 wounded and 181 missing.
JOHNSON, Theodore K, First Lieutenant, O-013977, USMC, from Massachusetts, Honolulu Memorial + JOHNSON, Theodore Knapp, 13977, Co I, 3rd Bn, 24th Mar, 4th Mar Div, FMF, Marshall Is, February 1, 1944, died of wounds + JOHNSON, Theodore K., 1st Lieutenant, USMCR. Brother, Mr. Charles F. Johnson, 516 Wildwood Rd., West Allenhurst, NJ
Body Not Recovered
Other Comments:
Theodore Johnson was born and raised in Newton, Massachusetts. He was the youngest son of Oscar and Louise Johnson, and attended Dartmouth College. Ted enlisted in the Marine Corps in February, 1942. After completing his training at Parris Island, he was sent to the Marine barracks at Balboa near the Panama Canal. He was only there a few months before being appointed a Private First Class and sent to Quantico, Virginia, for officer candidate school. He received his commission as a second lieutenant in late 1942, and was posted to Company C, First Separate Battalion at New River. Johnson was promoted to First Lieutenant in the summer of 1943, and became the company executive officer. He was close friends with a number of other officers in the battalion, even joining a four-part singing group. "TK" embarked on the USS DuPage in January 1944, and sailed with his battalion for the invasion of Namur. A heavy sleeper, he was late to wake up even on the morning of the invasion. A few short hours later, Lieutenant Johnson was shot in the leg by a Japanese sniper. He was quickly evacuated to the USS Bolivar, but died of his wound during the night of February 1, 1944. He was buried at sea.
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The 1st and 2d Aviation Engineer Battalions were activated in May 1942 as Fleet Marine Force troops attached to IMAC. Lightly equipped, their three companies were intended to be airlifted onto islands to repair captured airfields. With no opportunities to be employed as such and the availability of Naval construction battalions for airfield rehabilitation and construction, they were provided with heavier equipment and re-designated "Separate Engineer Battalions," to differentiate them from the 1st and 2d {Divisional} Engineer Battalions, on 1 May 1944, the 1st and 2d Separate Engineer Battalions were then attached to III AC and VC, respectively. The battalions received a topographic company (Company D) in late 1944, but these were made separate companies in February 1945.
Bn Activated Deactivated
1st 1 May 1942 at New River 20 Aug 1946 Camp Pendleton
2nd 8 May 1942 Camp Elliot 6 Feb 1946 Camp Pendleton
