Lemont Guardsman honored for bravery and determination

First ever Chicago Walk of Fame

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (12/04/2014)(readMedia)-- Story by Capt. Dustin Cammack, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

CHICAGO – Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Scott Johnson, a Purple Heart recipient from Lemont, Illinois, was among the inaugural inductees to the first ever Chicago Walk of Fame, held at the United Center, Nov. 20. Johnson accepted the honor on behalf of all local military who have served, past and present.

"There is no one better to represent our organization for this event," said Capt. Dutch Grove of Sherman, Illinois, his former commander. "Sgt. 1st Class Johnson is the epitome of professionalism, high energy, with an unmatched work ethic."

Johnson was selected to accept this honor based on recommendations from his leadership and his record of bravery and determination.

Chicago's first ever Walk of Fame, organized by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and the United Center, was a tribute to legendary figures who have helped shape the city of Chicago. Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson hosted the circus-style celebration that featured clowns, dancers and a painted elephant named Kelly Ann. The event concluded with all the honorees making handprints in cement and posing for photos.

"He was once at a point where he nearly lost the ability to be a Soldier," said Grove. "Having bounced back from that, he will not accept anything less than 100 percent from himself, from his leaders and from his subordinates."

Johnson's military career began in 1997 at the age of 17. He enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard as a transportation specialist in the 1544th Transportation Company in Paris, Illinois.

"I come from a family of many, as I have five brothers, three stepbrothers and two stepsisters," said Johnson. "Including myself, three of my brothers and one stepbrother also served in the National Guard and accompanied me as a member of the 1544th Transportation Company."

The 1544th was mobilized during the Gulf War in the early 1990s, but had not seen action again until early 2004 after called to duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. At that time, Johnson was the last of his brothers still serving with the Illinois National Guard and one of three still in uniform.

"My step father was a sergeant in the Marine Corps back in his day and was proud to have his son and stepsons follow in his footsteps," said Johnson. "He and my mother were especially proud and petrified all at the same time when they found three of us in Iraq simultaneously serving with separate units spread among the Illinois and Indiana National Guard."

Johnson's identical twin brother and stepbrother mobilized to Iraq in 2002 as infantrymen and spent the majority of their efforts flushing out insurgents. In February 2004, Johnson and the 1544th landed in Kuwait and soon moved north into Baghdad to Log Base Seitz (LBS).

"LBS, as it was referred, seemed to many of us as a catcher's mitt for whatever the neighboring city of Abu Ghraib decided to punish us with on a daily basis," said Johnson. "All in all, we lost five of our Soldiers at the hands of both mortar attacks and ambushes alongside convoy supply routes."

In May, while on convoy near Fallujah, Johnson's tour of duty took a dramatic turn.

"May 23rd started as ordinary as ordinary was for Log Base Seitz," said Johnson. "On that Sunday, I became a passenger of a civilian contractor hauling mail throughout the Sunni Triangle."

Due to certain restrictions relating to contractors, his unit supported the mission and embedded Soldiers and vehicles into the civilian convoys to serve as an armed escort, Johnson recalled.

"After a long day of travel and upon our last mail pick-up for the day, we loaded up and hit the road to return to our base camp," said Johnson. "In a literal flash and massive explosion, it hit me. I caught a glimpse of a dump truck from the corner of my eye as it disintegrated into a ball of flames."

Johnson's vehicle, along with the vehicle ahead of his, bore the brunt of a massive vehicle born improvised explosive device (VBIED).

"I had seen them before, but never of this magnitude and certainly not this up close and personal," said Johnson. "At that moment, the only thought I had was 'it's one of them.' The one thing that is the most difficult to defend yourself against and here I was smack dab in the center of it."

He suffered severe trauma to his face and neck due to shrapnel. In what seemed like less than a minute, Johnson recalled, members of his company removed him from the destroyed vehicle. Friendly trucks surrounded those in the danger zone as fellow Soldiers moved Johnson and the other casualties to the center of the makeshift safe zone.

"I remember telling myself to remain calm, as if it was a battle drill we as Soldiers prepared for," said Johnson. "But I could have never prepared for a gaping hole in my throat and the feeling of the swelling compressing my airway to the point of near asphyxiation."

A Navy Corpsman from a pursuing convoy came to his aid and performed an emergency tracheotomy.

"Just like that, I'm being told by a voice I do not recognize in a uniform not of the Army that my throat will be cut to save me," said Johnson. "With this strange apparatus in my neck, I spent the next several minutes as we await for the MEDEVAC."

Once off the battlefield, Johnson was flown to Baghdad for emergency surgery, moved to Landstuhl Medical Hospital in Germany, then finally to Walter Reed Medical Center.

"My next recollection was hearing the voices of medical staff reminding one another to prepare as I regain consciousness from the induced coma," said Johnson. "The date was now May 28. I had lost five days of my life with little more than peculiar dreams to show for it."

For the next 17 days, Johnson exhausted all efforts on rehabilitation and recovery.

"I lost more than 30 pounds in the course of a few short weeks and initially struggled to find the strength to even walk," said Johnson.

The time eventually came when doctors felt it was time to permit discharge. After leaving Walter Reed, Johnson spent the next several years in difficult rehabilitation and recovery from multiple surgeries. He returned four additional times to have residual scar tissue removed from his airway. Sixty percent blockage was ultimately reduced to nearly 15.

"The scars and partially blocked airway are nothing more than a reminder to me now," said Johnson. "I've tried to remain resilient and excel in all the ways I had before May 23, 2004. So far, I have been successful."

In all, 23 Soldiers from the 1544th, to include Johnson, sustained combat related injuries while serving in Iraq.

"Two frequent questions I continue to be asked are whether or not I regret the actions of that day and would I do it again if I could," said Johnson. "My answer is always the same. No regrets and better me than the other guy."

Johnson is a recruiter for the Illinois National Guard.

Along with Johnson, Walk of Fame inductees includeed Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White; Carol Adams, Ph.D., retiring president and CEO of the DuSable Museum of African American History; Bob "Butterbean" Love, former Chicago Bulls player; Jane Byrne, Chicago's first female mayor (represented by her daughter, Kathy); and Ann Haley, co-founder of the Jackie Robinson West Little League. The handprints will hang on the United Center's 100 Level Concourse.

Walk of Fame inductees pose for a photo (right to left): Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White; Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Scott Johnson of Lemont, Illinois, Purple Heart recipient; Bob "Butterbean" Love, former Chicago Bulls player; and Ann Haley, co-founder of the Jackie Robinson West Little League held at the United Center, Nov. 20. The handprints will hang on the United Center's 100 Level Concourse. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Dustin Cammack, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office)

Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Scott Johnson of Lemont, Illinois, Purple Heart recipient, makes hand prints in cement at the first ever Chicago Walk of Fame, held at the United Center, Nov. 20. Johnson accepted the honor on behalf of all local military who have served past and present. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Dustin Cammack, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office)

Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Scott Johnson of Lemont, Illinois, Purple Heart recipient, was honored at the first ever Chicago Walk of Fame, held at the United Center, Nov. 20. Johnson accepted the honor on behalf of all local military who have served past and present. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Dustin Cammack, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office)

Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Scott Johnson, of Lemont, and his wife, Jamie, pose after being honored at the first ever Chicago Walk of Fame, held at the United Center, Nov. 20. Johnson accepted the honor on behalf of all local military who have served past and present. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Dustin Cammack, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office)