In Memory

Donald Johnston - Class Of 1966 VIEW PROFILE

Donald Johnston

Jim Davis, Class of 66 posted this:
Date Deceased: 03-21-1969
Age at Death: 21
Cause of Death: explosive charge during enemy attack
City: Columbus State: GA 
Johnston joined the Army from his birth city of Columbus, Georgia, and by March 21, 1969 was serving as a specialist fourth class in Company D, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On that day, in Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, Johnston smothered the blasts of three enemy-thrown explosives with his body, sacrificing his life to protect those around him. Johnston, aged 21 at his death, was buried at the Fort Benning Post Cemetery in Georgia. Medal of Honor Specialist Johnston's official Medal of Honor citation reads: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Johnston distinguished himself while serving as a mortarman with Company D, at a fire support base in Tay Ninh Province. Sp4c. Johnston's company was in defensive positions when it came under a devastating rocket and mortar attack. Under cover of the bombardment, enemy sappers broke through the defensive perimeter and began hurling explosive charges into the main defensive bunkers. Sp4c. Johnston and 6 of his comrades had moved from their exposed positions to 1 of the bunkers to continue their fight against the enemy attackers. As they were firing from the bunker, an enemy soldier threw 3 explosive charges into their position. Sensing the danger to his comrades, Sp4c. Johnston, with complete disregard for his safety, hurled himself onto the explosive charges, smothering the detonations with his body and shielding his fellow soldiers from the blast. His heroic action saved the lives of 6 of his comrades. Sp4c. Johnston's concern for his fellow men at the cost of his life were in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Follow the link to see his listing on The Wall ~ http://thewall-usa.com/info.asp?recid=26516

 Additional information mirrored in from old BHS website:

 Donald Ray Johnston, Class of '66-Deceased: March 21, 1969

Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for action in Vietnam. The Medal of Honor is awarded by the President, in the name of the Congress. It is the highest award for valor a soldier can receive.

Here is the official military record:

Johnston, Donald Ray
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company D, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.
Place and date: Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, 21 March 1969.
Entered service at: Columbus, Ga.
Born: 19 November 1947, Columbus, Ga.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Sp4c. Johnston distinguished himself while serving as a mortarman with Company D, at a fire support base in Tay Ninh Province. Sp4c. Johnston's company was in defensive positions when it came under a devastating rocket and mortar attack. Under cover of the bombardment, enemy sappers broke through the defensive perimeter and began hurling explosive charges into the main defensive bunkers. Sp4c. Johnston and 6 of his comrades had moved from their exposed positions to 1 of the bunkers to continue their fight against the enemy attackers. As they were firing from the bunker, an enemy soldier threw 3 explosive charges into their position. Sensing the danger to his comrades, Sp4c. Johnston, with complete disregard for his safety, hurled himself onto the explosive charges, smothering the detonations with his body and shielding his fellow soldiers from the blast. His heroic action saved the lives of 6 of his comrades. Sp4c. Johnston's concern for his fellow men at the cost of his life were in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

 

 


 



 
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03/15/12 11:35 PM #9    

Shari Phipps (Evans) (1966)

I didn't know him very well but I remember him.  It was a little surreal to see his Medal of Honor memorial at the National Infantry Museum.  Thank you, Donald, for what you did for all of us!  You will not be forgotten!


03/19/12 02:21 AM #10    

Mike Roche (1967)

It's never about a cause or some fight our leaders get us into or some fancy words the newscasters speak at us, it's always about the guys that we fight with. Its those guys we spend our days and nights with, those we shared our food, beer and toilet paper with.

I did not know Skeeter personally, but I and all of us that have fought know him well. He is one of the ones who truly laid his life down for his brother. We think of them always and we will never forget them.

Mike Roche


03/20/12 11:31 PM #11    

Marion Butts (Richard) (1975)

i did not know donald. but he is family! my baker family.i was in columbus this weekend for the baker lunch. so today before i came back to Fl i went to ft benning. i went to visit donald and david crow.rip they are in the same circle. they are gone but never forgotten

Donald your Baker High School family loves and misses you!


05/06/12 10:28 PM #12    

Marion Butts (Richard) (1975)

so proud of you!

 


04/20/13 11:49 PM #13    

Ineta Sue "Neta" Delffs (Buckwalter) (1977)

Skeeter was my brothers (David Delffs) best friend.  I fondly recall the two of them hanging out at our house on Clay Street.  Before being deployed to Viet Nam, Skeeter came to say his goodbyes to our family.  On that particular day, I was the one who opened the door...there he stood with that sweet, sweet smile.  Never did we believe that would be the last time we saw our Skeeter.

  David attends any and all services held to honor Skeeter who is buried at Fort Benning.  Our family will forever remember our friend, brother and protector of the Delffs family.  Thank you for your service, the memories and for the ultimate sacrifice, your life.  We love you Skeeter.


06/05/13 01:53 PM #14    

Vicki Lee Payne (Brown) (1970)

For those of you who never knew him...you really missed a gem!!!  I was one of those people who he came to visit on his last day before deployment to say Good-Bye.  BUT, in his own witty way he also simply wanted to rag me because I was dating Earl Tabor and he just had  so much hair.  Skeeter told me he was gonna hold him down and cut his hair when he got back!!  We also made a date on that day but that never happened.  He was a wonderful person and it seems like he was just always around...it still does.  He is still missed so much by every life he touched and that truly says so much about the person he was.  Another young life gone by a useless war.


06/06/13 10:44 AM #15    

Marlene Carr (Lantzer) (1975)

You will always be remembered.  Rest in peace.  Marlene Carr Lantzer BHS'75


06/12/13 11:49 AM #16    

Roger Delffs (1966)

I served in Vietnam (as a medic ) at the same time as Skeeter.  He was a long-time family friend and was loved dearly.   I recall the letter telling me that Billy Smith was KIA., next  I learned of David Hogan being KIA... that  was quickly followed  by notice of Skeeter's death. I was the only one to return to Columbus of the 4 of us that deployed in 1968. 1969 was a terrible year for BHS.


01/26/15 12:33 PM #17    

Danny Williams (1975)

RIP>DANNY WILLIAMSBHS75


03/15/24 09:42 AM #18    

Steve France (1967)

"Skeeter" and I grew up in the same neighborhood. Didn't know him well, but well enough to be proud to have known him. Via con Dios, Sheeter.


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