LITTLE ROCK, AR, USA U.S. Navy HM2, NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER, SAN DIEGO, CA IRAQ 03/25/2003
Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael Vann Johnson Jr. was raised in Little Rock Arkansas and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas. “He was just a big kid,” said his sister, Janisa Hooks. “Mikey was a fun person. He liked to draw and he loved basketball, a real people’s person.”
After graduation, Michael joined the Navy. He was assigned to Naval l Medical Center, First Marine Division Detachment San Diego California. He was then as a assigned to Third Battalion Fifth Marines (3/5), in First Marine Division (1st MAR DIV) for the duration of the Iraq War. He was what is called MAP personnel (Medical Augmented Personnel). In March 2003, Michael was deployed to Iraq. He was put with Weapons Company in the CAAT Platoon. He traveled with his men in their Humvee and took care of them. On March 25, 2003 Michael was killed by a rocket propelled grenade that entered his Humvee and detonated. Michael was tending to a wounded soldier at the time
Shortly before his death, his mother received a letter from him. “Mom,” he wrote, “I love you, and don’t be afraid if I don’t return, realize I’m in heaven with God.” Michael was the first serviceman from Arkansas to die in the war in Iraq. The Michael Vann Johnson Jr. American Legion Post No. 74 was named in his honor.