THE WALL OF FACES

I remember when y'all took off on that mission...you were on the first up aircraft and I was on the second up with the Hoist...I will never forget how terrible I felt when I heard about your helicopter going down...especially since we had talked just a bit earlier.Take care my Buddy, you and the others will always be remembered..

Gary Morgan Johnson

I feel everyone here needs some acknowledgement of their ultimate sacrifice for our country. You died much too young. You had a life that deserved many more years. There are people left behind who loved you and who, I imagine still feel the pain of your loss to this day. I hope they have comfort in knowing you are at rest and that they will someday see you again in a much better place.

Your courage and efforts in Vietnam will never be forgotten in my heart and in a multitude of others who have the upmost respect and honor for the soldiers who lost their lives there.

in Peace always
February 5, 2003

Gary was my best friend and college room-mate at Texas-Tech in Lubbock, Texas. He studied music, and worked as Director of Music and Youth in a local church, and was extremely gifted and talented. At the height of the Vietnam War we decided to enter the Armed Service, and although he encouraged me to join him in the Army's "Buddy System", I elected to enter the USAF. In out training we were fortunate to be stationed in San Antonio, Texas, and we spent many off-duty weekends together. He trained as a "Doc" Army Medic, and was assigned to a Helicopter Dust-off unit. DUST-OFF 13 was attempting a night-hoist rescue mission near Xuan Loc, in the Long Binh Province, on 5Feb69, and his crew had made two previous attempts to execute the extraction, but were driven off by ground fire. On their third attempt, they were hit by a B-40 RPG, and all were instantly killed. Days later I received that terrible telephone call from his father. Gary died as he lived...helping others. He was our Hero, his picture hangs on the wall in our home, and my children know him well. Shortly after his death my loving grandmother wrote a comforting letter, and I remember her words..."It is too bad that war takes those who can give so much to the world, but those of great character are the only ones that be depended upon." He was my friend, and I love him still.