Posted on 10/22/2009 5:24:39 AM PDT by Saije
Army Sgt. Aaron Johnston, 24, of Redlands, will leave Friday on a mission with the Army Reserves to a mission in Afghanistan he didn't have to take.
Johnston, a maintenance engineer for Redlands Hospital, volunteered to take the place of Sgt. Pete Schaffer, when Schaffer's father became ill.
Johnston will be with the Riverside 2nd/413th 95th Division, helping the Afghan National Army for nine months learn how to protect and defend its country when the Americans leave.
He will serve 14 months total on the entire mission, leaving behind his wife Ashley and two year-old daughter, Chloe.
"Sergeant Schaffer called me to see if I would take his place. It took about a week, talking it over with my wife, to decide to take his place," said Johnston. "My wife is upset, but supportive."
He said that offering to take the sergeant's place felt right, and that he would hope if he needed relief from duty at some point, someone would step up for him.
Johnston said he was on the mission list as an alternate, while Schaffer was a primary, meaning Johnston would not have gone on the mission at all if he'd not helped out Schaffer.
Johnston grew up in Redlands, joining the Army reserves after graduating high school. He served active duty for three years and was serving in Kosovo in security for convoys and peacekeeping when the 9/11 attacks occurred. He served in Iraq from January 2007 to June 2008 as security for personnel convoys, as a gunner on the rear truck.
(Excerpt) Read more at pe.com ...
Indeed.
Prayers going up for his safe return!
Friend definitely. “Man” without a doubt.
WOW!
I’ve listened all morning to people on the morning shows say how tired we are of this war. Seems like to me, the people fighting aren’t.........
“No greater gift....”
And they say this younger generation doesn’t “have it.” These guys have it in spades.
Good for them. God’s speed.
God bless him. Prayers.
May St Michael the Archangel protect Army Sgt. Aaron Johnston.
God Bless This Brave Soldier and watch over him so that he returns safely.
In my estimation, Sgt. Johnston has won the highest honor that can be given.
Redlands ping!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please protect Army Sgt. Aaron Johnston, 24, of Redlands, and bring him home safely to his wife, Ashley, and their precious two year old daughter, Chloe.
Please shed Your blessings on all of our troops. Thank You, Father, for servants such as these who are willing to lay down their lives to protect their fellow man.
Help us, at home, to be as loyal to them as they are to us. And, may we all be loyal to You and Your Son.
I pray in the name of Christ,
Amen.
Hero.
No need to ellipses the quote...
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.”
John 15:12-14
This is the unfortunately the exception, not the rule - but this SGT is exactly what we need MORE of in the military (and the general population, at that).
I have to admit that while my knowledge of the bible is better than the average bear, there are very few that I can declare the actual chapter and verse. In the part of the woods, it is amazing that anyone still knows what the bible is.
Although, I do listen to it in the car. On long drives it is amazing the gems you can find in the more obscure books.
Thanks for filling in the blanks.
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