Colonel Emmett F. Johnson, Sr.
Colonel Emmett F. Johnson was born in Geneva County, Alabama on March 25,
- He passed away on July 14, 2023, in Dothan, Alabama.
He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Susie Mae Johnson; His wife
of 55 years, Patricia Ann, daughter, Cyndi Ann Tereszkiewicz, brothers, Clois, Roy,
Eldon and sister Veta (Fuqua).
He is survived by his wife, Sue. Two sons, Emmett F. (Chip) Johnson, Jr. (Rebecca)
and Forrest E. Johnson (Stephanie) and niece, Delora Lightsey (Steve) and Son-in-
Law, John Tereszkiewicz. Grandchildren, Emmett F. (Trace) Johnson III (Victoria), Anna
Burchett (Greg), Joshua Tereszkiewicz (Betsy), Peter Tereszkiewicz, Jessica Gosdin
(Will), Michael Emmett, Mathew, Megan, Mark Johnson and Cooper
Tereszkiewicz. Great grandchildren, Emerson and Ryleigh Burchett and Eli Gosdin.
Colonel Johnson is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and
nephews. In addition, he is survived by his loyal canine, his yorkie terrier, Charlie.
Colonel Johnson volunteered for the U.S. Army right after graduation from Samson High
School. He served in the Army Security Agency as an enlisted man for over three
years. After his stint in the U. S. Army, he utilized his G.I. Bill benefit to enroll at
Auburn University in 1957. In June 1961 he graduated as a Distinguished Military
Graduate in Electrical Engineering.
He was commissioned as a Regular Army 2nd Lieutenant in the Signal Corps and
assigned as a Platoon Leader in the 122nd Signal Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division,
Fort Benning, Georgia. While assigned to Fort Benning, he attended the Signal
Officers’ Basic Course, Ranger and Airborne Schools. His next assignment was to
the 5th Signal Battalion, 5th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado, where he
served as Platoon Leader and commanded B Company. He subsequently
attended the U.S. Army Aviation School and was rated as a fixed-wing aviator in
- After flight school, Colonel Johnson was assigned as the Battalion
Communications Officer and Headquarters and Headquarters Company
Commander in the 25th Infantry Aviation Division in Hawaii. He served his first
tour in the Republic of Vietnam with the 25th Division and later as a Platoon
Leader with the 221st Aviation Reconnaissance Company in the Mekong Delta. In
1967 he returned from Vietnam to Fort Rucker where he became rotary-wing
qualified, attended the Instrument Flight Examiners Course, and served as a Flight
Commander at the Army Aviation School. He then attended the Signal Officers’
Advanced Course enroute to a second tour in Vietnam where he served as
Commander, 61st Assault Helicopter Company (Combat). Upon returning from
Vietnam in 1970, Colonel Johnson attended the Command and General Staff
College and the University of Alabama, where he earned a Master’s Degree in
Electrical Engineering in 1973. Subsequent assignments included a tour with the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.; Division Chief, Avionic, Visionics and
Electronic Warfare Division, Combat Developments Directorate, U.S. Army
Aviation Center; and Commander, USACC-Fort Rucker. After his assignments at
Fort Rucker, he commanded the 58th ATC Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
From Fort Bragg, he was assigned to the Air University where he attended the Air
War College in Montgomery, Alabama. After graduation from the Air War College
in May 1983, Colonel Johnson was assigned as Commander, Air Traffic Control
Activity, U.S. Army Communications Command where he served until 1984. He
returned to his College Alma Mater, Auburn University, to serve as Professor of
Military Services for three years where he retired from in 1987.
His U.S. Army decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star
w/Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal w/15 Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal
w/Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Medal Commendation Medal, Good Conduct
Medal and the JCS Identification Badge. He finished his U.S. Army career as a
Master Army Aviator and is Ranger and Airborne qualified.
After retirement from the U.S. Army, Colonel Johnson joined the Auburn
University College of Engineering in the Aerospace Department where he served
as an instructor in the School of Aviation Management. In his 20-year tenure with
the Aviation Management Department, he was selected by the Student Body with
the Aviation Management Program as Outstanding Faculty Member, twice.
Colonel Johnson worked within the Aviation Management Program until
becoming the Head of the Department in early 1994. During his tenure as
Department Head of the Aviation Management Program, Colonel Johnson was
instrumental in the transfer of the School of Aviation Management from the
College of Engineering to the College of Business, where it resides today.
Colonel Johnson was a Free Mason and originally initiated and raised at Hancock Lodge No. 311 in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He attained his 32nd degree as Free Mason while also joining the Shriners. He later was accepted to the Carmichael Lodge No. 548 in Enterprise, Alabama.
After retiring from Auburn University and the Aviation Management Program,
Colonel Johnson has spent his last years being an active member at Roper Heights Church of Christ and enjoying fishing, entertaining friends, family and spoiling his grand and great grand kids at his home in the Lake Martin area.
Funeral services was held on Friday, July 21, 2023, at Earlytown Church of Christ with Minister Don Jackson officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery with full military honors and Masonic rites. Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home of Geneva, AL directed.
