Steve Johnson

Veteran of the Month, September 2004




Brief Bio: dob, service, occupation now, family



I was born in Spartanburg, S.C. in 1946. My family (father, mother and two sisters) eventually moved to Atlanta, GA. in 1952 and this is where I grew up and finished my formal education. I am currently retired from the printing industry. I spent nearly 30 years in the newspaper industry, and 4 years in commericial printing in operations management. With "time off" for a couple of years in the military (Army). I entered the Army in the spring of 1967 and was discharged in the spring of 1969. After my long career in printing, my old "war" wounds finally caught up with me in 1996 and I was unable to continue my career in printing.

My wife Jackie and I now live in Tarpon Springs, FL. and are enjoying our retirement and life together in spite of our many physical "ailments". We have two wonderful chlidren. Our son Curtis is 34 years old and is also in printing (advertising executive) and he and his wife Kathe have given us three beautiful grandchildren, Alec (13)...Mandy (8)...and Kaylie (5). Our daughter Stephanie is 31 years old and is currently taking "time off" from her position as a micro-biologist with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta to spend time with her two young children, Matthew (4) and Stella (6 months) before returning to work when they enter school. At least she claims she "may" go back to work. She, her husband Mike and their children live in Buford, GA. as does Curt and Kathe and their famliy about 6 miles apart. So it's easy for us to visit each of them when we go back up to Atlanta for holidays, birthdays, etc.



Why did you decide to join the Armed services?



I didn't, I was drafted. But, I did volunteer for duty in Vietnam. My Basic training was at Fort Benning, GA. (Harmomy Church area) and then on to Fort McClellan, AL (Tiger Land) for AIT before heading out for Vietnam .



Where were you assigned during your tour?



At first, the original Ninth Division HQ in a place called "Bearcat" not very far from Long Binh.



What was your first assignment?



The s**t burning detail at Long Binh the first couple of nights in country before getting trucked over to Bearcat was my first "assignment". Then we were sent out on patrol in a rubber plantation our second night at Bearcat. Ran into a sniper that night, but no one got hit. But the reality of the situation sure began to sink in that night!



Where did you go next?



After a short stay at Bearcat we got our orders to head down to the Mekong Delta to a place called Tan Tru. Home of the 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry, 3rd Brigade (Go Devils) later to be renamed the "Recondo" battalion. Water, water everywhere! But, I didn't get to stay here for long. After a few days I got assigned to A-Company, which a few weeks earlier had been assigned to set up a company sized base camp on a river about 25 miles away and pretty far out in the boonies near a litlle village called An Nuht Tan. Not a very nice place.....at ALL! as my friend Andy says.....bad Ju Ju, REAL bad Ju Ju in that place!



Have any interesting highlights to share?



The main thing I remember was all the dogone rain. I got there near the end of the rainy, or monsoon season and darned if it didn't rain every single day and usually every night. I'd never seen so much mud and muddy water in all my life. If anyone who has ever seen the movie Forrest Gump with that scene where he's in the rain "sideways", and even "up".........just multiply that by about two or three times and you'll get the picture! Seems like we spent about half our time "bailing" water out of our bunkers, boats, boots, ect. or wipeing or cleaning the mud off our clothes, boots, weapons or nearly everything. But at least it kept our minds off the bad "Ju Ju" we were encountering with alarming regularity during late summer and early fall.



What were your most memorable experiences in the military?



There were many. The feeling of pride and accomplishment during training and at graduation ceremonys from basic and AIT along with the camaraderie and frienships established there and especially later on in Vietnam. The fear and constant anticipation and awareness that being in a place where you know someone is trying to kill you was pervasive nearly all the time. The heartbreak and sorrow of seeing one of your friends get killed, or maimed for the rest of their life. My MOST memorable experience was the night of November 5, 1967 in a place called the "Bowling Alley" not far from An Nuht Tan. That night I was wounded in both legs, right hip and lower body and very nearly killed. All of these were the most powerfully definitive time periods of my life and would shape and mold me from then and throughout my life.



How did you feel about going into combat?



Occasionally anxious, frequently pissed-off, constantly terrified!



What was your homecoming like?



It was GREAT! After spending a couple of weeks in the 93rd Evacuation hospital at Tan Son Nhut (sp?) air base in Nam and about one and a half months at an Army Hospital in Tokyo, Japan I was wrapped up in a "body cast" from my chin down to my toes and "shipped" home to Augusta, GA. at Fort Gordon Army Hospital. I got there on Christmas Eve 1967 and my entire family was there at the hospital to meet me. It WAS the best Christmas I'd EVER had!



What do you consider your greatest achievements?



Most of all, being a loving and supportive father, grandfather and husband for these past 36 years. All the other "stuuf" is just gravy.



What are some of the highlights of your life since the war?



I think I've already mentioned most of them previously.



Are you active in veterans' organizations?



Yes, very much so. I'm a life member of the DAV, VFW, MOPH, MRFA, 2nd of the 60th Association, and many others.



Do you keep in contact with your military comrades?



Yes, a few guys from my old unit have gotten together for several years now. I've also found several folks that I served with when I joined the Moblie Riverene Force association a few years ago.



What can be done to improve public awareness of foreign policy and military and veterans' affairs?



SPEAK OUT......SPEAK OUT......SPEAK OUT! Educate yourself on the issues that affect all current members of the military and veterans and their dependennts as well! Then write letters to your Congressmen, Senators, the Whitehouse, local politicians, news media, military service organizations, etc...........speak up at public gatherings and meetings where you can to get your message across. And, most of all PLEASE volunteer your time and efforts whenever and wherever you can to increase assistance to our current military members and our military veterans.



Are there any messages you would like to communicate to your fellow veterans?



Yes, I understand that I may at times infuriate and antagonize folks that may or may not agree with my point of view(s) on certain subjects. For that, I'd like to apologize if I offend anyone. But, if my unrelenting nature has established a way to "think" about the subject matter and bring it to the forefront..........I've made a difference, and that's about all we can do.



Steve Johnson, aka Gimpy



Thank you for your service to our country and your time in this interview.