Tulsa soldier killed in grenade explosion in Iraq

KILLED
Army Pfc. Dylan Jeffrey Johnson: He was killed by a grenade Sunday after being in Iraq only 3 1/2 weeks.

By MANNY GAMALLO World Staff Writer
Published: 6/28/2011  2:30 AM
Last Modified: 6/28/2011  10:32 AM

A young soldier from Tulsa, known among his Army buddies as a fun, happy-go-lucky person, was killed in a grenade attack in Iraq on Sunday, his father said.

Army Pfc. Dylan Jeffrey Johnson, 20, had been in Iraq only 3 1/2 weeks when he was killed in a small town north of Baghdad, his father said. The soldier left for Iraq on Memorial Day in what was his first overseas deployment, and he arrived there June 2.

Johnson was attached to the 4th Squadron of the 9th Cavalry Regiment, based at Fort Hood, near Killeen, Texas.

His father, Jeff Johnson, said he was notified about his son's death on Sunday night. He said his son was killed around noon local Iraq time on Sunday in the town of Jalula.

He said his son was driving an MRAP (mine resistant ambush protected) vehicle when an insurgent threw an armor-piercing grenade at the windshield. The explosion instantly killed his son and a sergeant, Jeff Johnson said he was told.

"I had thought the glass on those were bulletproof, but I guess the grenade hit at just the right angle," he said.

Johnson said his son was a scout and was working with other soldiers to shut down U.S. bases in Iraq and turn them over to the Iraqis after the pullout of all U.S. combat troops.

He said his son had driven some dignitaries to northern Iraq and was returning to his base when the attack occurred.

"I've been chatting with the guys in his platoon all day, and they all described him as one of the funniest guys they ever met," Johnson said Monday. "He was that way - a natural comedian."

Johnson said his son loved music and sports and "was a great marksman."

Jeff Johnson said Dylan Johnson went to Jenks High School and decided to join the Army in 2009, largely inspired by the men on both sides of his family who served with the military during World War II and Korea.

Johnson said his son completed his basic training at Fort Knox, Ky., and then was assigned to Fort Hood, where he remained until he deployed to Iraq.

The 46-year-old Johnson, who called Dylan Johnson his "best friend," said he last saw his son in March.

"He knew they were going to Iraq, but he didn't know when. He was really excited about going over there," Johnson said.

He and his son communicated through Facebook while Dylan Johnson was in Iraq.

Their last communication was Friday, when Johnson said his son complained about the heat in Iraq and said he was bored and wanted something to do that was more exciting.

Johnson said he will leave Tuesday for Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where his son's body is expected to arrive from Kuwait.

He said funeral arrangements will be made in the Washington, D.C., area for his son's burial in Arlington National Cemetery. The date for the funeral has not been set.

In addition to his father, the soldier is survived by his mother, Joy Sehl; his stepmother, Lynda Johnson; two sisters, Alexandra Johnson, 15, and Kathryn Sehl, 8; and two stepsisters, Brittany Dinan, 16, and Brooke Dinan, 13. All are of Tulsa.