Johnson, Kalin Christopher Lee
Male
Verified Private First Class Kalin Christopher Lee Johnson, 19, of Lexington, South Carolina, was a U.S. Army soldier killed in action on March 8, 2011, in Rangrizan, Afghanistan.
Their Story
Kalin Christopher Lee Johnson was a 19-year-old from Lexington, South Carolina. He served as a Private First Class with Company G, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, based in Vilseck, Germany. The unit deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
On March 8, 2011, Johnson died in Rangrizan, a district in Wardak province, Afghanistan. The Department of Defense stated he was killed by enemy small arms fire while conducting a dismounted patrol. His death was one of several suffered by U.S. forces in Wardak province during a period of intense fighting in the region.
Operation Enduring Freedom was the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By 2011, the conflict was in its tenth year, with a focus on counterinsurgency operations and training Afghan security forces. Wardak province, south of Kabul, was a known insurgent transit route and a frequent site of combat.
Following his death, Johnson's body was returned to the United States. A memorial service was held in his hometown of Lexington. The Department of Defense officially announced his death on March 10, 2011.
Johnson was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and other service medals. He is remembered on memorials in South Carolina and by his unit and family.
Explore Further
PFC Johnson was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
