Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael Vann Johnson Jr.
http://www.kark.com/karktv/news/story_tmp.asp?cmd=view&Storyid=6223 Little Rock Medic Killed In Iraq
Story by Alice Stewart
Michael Johnson Junior was a Navy Medic. He was in Iraq with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Corps. The U.S. Navy says he died as a result of friendly fire Tuesday in Iraq. Johnson was born and raised in Little Rock.
His family was gracious enough to speak with News 4 Arkansas on Thursday afternoon. They all say they're very proud of their hero. Knowing he died serving his country, and doing what he loved to do.
A letter addressed to “my lovely mother” has been a saving grace for Jana Norfleet. She recently received it from her son, Navy Medic Michael Johnson. "He basically said he was going to be ok. He said God had twisted a guardian angel around him…he said he hopes to return, but if he didn't, he said, ‘don't cry for me, because if I don't return, I'll be in heaven with my grandmother.’”
Navy Medic Johnson will not return. The U.S. Navy says he was killed in action on Tuesday, while tending to wounded soldiers. He died as a result of friendly fire.
His family remembers him with great pride. "The loss will never be greater, but I'm not going to let one day of tragedy remove 25 years of good memory," says Michael Johnson, Sr.
Janisa Hooks, Michael Johnson Junior’s sister, tells News 4 Arkansas, "I feel the sorrow in my heart of losing him, but it was for a good cause..."
Carri Johnson, another of Michael Johnson's sisters, explains, "it's a sign of sadness and joy, because he was fighting for our country..."
"Even though, in my heart, I am sad, I'm being strong, but I can tell you I'm happy for Mike, because he's a hero, he did what he wanted to do for our country..."
Johnson has a big family. He has five sisters and two brothers, and his wife lives in San Diego, where he was stationed. Those News 4 Arkansas spoke with say that despite his death, they still support the mission in Iraq.
Military experts will tell you, friendly fire is an unfortunate fact of war. Taking a look at the numbers from the first Gulf War, 35 of the 146 U.S. military personnel killed in action during the 1991 conflict died from friendly fire. Numbers released since the beginning of this war show as many as four British soldiers killed by friendly fire. Johnson's death would bring that to five.