Marine Cpl. Stephen P. Johnson

Died January 26, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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24, of Covina, Calif.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Hawaii; killed Jan. 26 when the CH-53E helicopter he was in crashed near Rutbah, Iraq. Also killed was Marine Lance Cpl. Fred L. Maciel.

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California Marine killed in CH-53 crash

Associated Press

COVINA, Calif. — Lance Cpl. Stephen P. Johnson loved his 1-year-old son, Tyler, more than anything and would rush home from work to be with him.

“I know his whole world evolved around his son,” his sister, Kari Williams, said Tuesday from her home in Yreka, in Northern California. “When he was stationed in Hawaii, he couldn’t wait to finish work to go home to his son. That was his whole world.”

Johnson, 24, was one of 31 military personnel killed in a Jan. 26 helicopter crash in Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

The crash is under investigation but military officials believe it was caused by bad weather.

Johnson, of Covina, was sent to Iraq in the fall and had served about four years in the Marine Corps, where he completed his requirements for a high school degree.

Joining the Marines was an easy decision, “something he had always wanted to do,” his sister said.

Johnson took his military duty seriously, but he took everything else lightly.

“He was a ham. He loved doing impressions and making people laugh,” said Williams, 27. “He didn’t like things to get too serious. If it did, he’ll crack a joke.”

In addition to his sister and son, Johnson is survived by his wife, Kelsey.