Major Charles Edward Johnson

Ed was born on 7/19/1948 in the “Cedars” in Virgina with the given name of Charles Edward Johnson.  Like others in his family, he was called by his middle name.

Ed’s military career should be noted as it was a significant portion of his life. When Ed joined the US Army on June 6, 1966, he was sent to Ft. Dix, NJ for basic training.  During his training and aptitude testing, it was discovered that he had some unique talents.  After basic training, he was assigned to the Army Security Agency (ASA) and went to Ft. Devens, MA for advanced training and saw service at an outpost in Sinop, Turkey on the Black Sea monitoring Signals Intelligence.

During his time in Turkey, the Vietnam War had “heated up” significantly.  Ed was pulled out of Turkey and sent to Vietnam.  He was assigned to the 265^Th Radio Research Company, which officially didn’t exist, in direct support of the 101^st Airborne Division.  His “spooks and spies” outfit was involved in some of the bloodiest battles of the war, including the infamous Tet Offensive and the Battle of Hamburger Hill, of which a movie was made. 

Sometime during 1968, his first tour of duty ended, and he could have come home from Vietnam.  But, being the highly intelligent person, we thought he was, he decided to re-enlist for another tour.  During the Vietnam conflict, Ed was wounded on at least 2 different occasions and received 2 Purple Hearts for his troubles.

Ed survived his second Vietnam experience, said his goodbyes to his comrades, and headed back home.  Like so many before him, when he landed on the West Coast, he was greeted by taunts and was spat upon by antiwar protestors, a low ebb in the history of this country.

Ed resumed civilian life, obtaining a BA in business & marketing, and accepted a job with an Advertising agency in Chicago. After a few months he apparently did not find the job to be very rewarding and so, after qualifying for vacation time, took the vacation, and never returned to work. 

At that time, and after studying the situation for a few minutes, he rejoined the US Army, attended Officers Candidate School (OCS) at Ft. Benning, GA, graduated and was commissioned a 2^nd Lt.  Shortly afterward, he went to the elite Ranger training school.  Despite the normal 50% dropout rate, he persevered and graduated.  We do know that he had two tours in Germany and two tours in Korea.  We do believe that he spent unknown amounts of time, in many unknown parts of the world, doing unknown things.  

Afterward, he spent time at Ft. Sill, OK and a couple of tours at Ft. Lewis, WA.  Later he lived in New Windsor, NY and Longmont, CO where he was the Army advisor to several National Guard Units.  

Ed was an excellent skier.   He had honed his skiing skills in various areas around the world such as the Alps while in Germany, the Rocky Mountains while in Colorado, the Cascades and Canadian Rockies while in Washington, the Adirondacks while in New York and was a ski instructor for the West Point Ski Team while in New York state. 

Just prior to the 1990 Invasion by Iraq into Kuwait, Ed had submitted his retirement papers. US and coalition forces were staged in Saudi Arabia in their defense and for a possible invasion of Iraq. Ed, hearing the call, was quickly “unretired!  However, two days before he was to report, kidney stones changed that scenario for him.  By the time he was cleared, the war was over.  He was supposedly heard to be mumbling that he had missed a damn good war.  Ed subsequently retired on April 1, 1991, after 21 years of active duty.

After retirement, Ed decided to pursue his passion for skiing with his first stop being Park City, UT. and subsequently going on to other locations.  Deteriorating knees and ankles finally forced him to hang up the skis.  Afterward, he decided to attend the A&P Aircraft Mechanic School in Cheyenne, WY.  Working subsequently in Windsor, CO and Ft. Collins, Co.

Ed began thinking of a second retirement and ultimately found his perfect place in Sheridan, Wyoming.  Sheridan is a beautiful small western town with the Big Horn Mountains as an unobstructed backdrop from his rear porch.  Sheridan is also home to a regional VA Hospital that could deal with any military service-connected health issues.  Ed found many friends in this wonderful location and was known to frequent the Silver Spur café upon more than one occasion, and was known by name at Walmart.  He will be greatly missed. 

Funeral services will be held, per Ed’s wishes, in Jonesville, VA with burial in the cemetery on the family farm.  Please contact Robinette Funeral Home in Jonesville, VA for information on the schedule of services there.

A Celebration of Life is from 11:30 to 1:30, Friday, August 8, 2025, at the Big Horn Women’s Club in Big Horn WY. Please join family and friends for a luncheon reception.

Online condolences may be made to www.sheridanfuneral.com. Local arrangements are under the care of Sheridan Funeral Home.