William John Johnson
Specialist Five
187TH AHC, 11TH AVN BN, 12TH AVN GROUP, 1ST AVIATION BDE, USARV Army of the United States Santa Maria, California January 23, 1951 to February 12, 1971 WILLIAM J JOHNSON is on the Wall at Panel W5, Line 99 |
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William - "Bill", as he liked to be called - was my best friend. I left Vietnam and Bill extended. One month after I arrived home I received a letter that he had been killed. Bill was in country when I got there, and took me under his wing just like an old mother hen. But he taught me how to stay alive. If any of his family reads this I would like to talk to you. It has taken many years to come to grips with that War. You see, I went back and fought a second tour. My name is Michael C. Campbell, E-Mail campav@atcnet.net , home phone (208) 678-0043, or if you would like to send a letter 1018 Airport Road, Burley, ID 83318.
"For those that have fought for it,
Mike Campbell |
I have never forgotten you, my friend.
From a friend, |
A Note from The Virtual WallOn 12 Feb 1971 the 187th Assault Helicopter Company was conducting operations against an NVA/VC supply location east of the Mekong River in Cambodia. An AH-1G Cobra (tail number 66-15297) was hit by enemy fire, losing its tail rotor, but was successfully brought to a safe landing. Once on the ground, however, the aircraft was brought under fire. The co-pilot, Captain James G. Siddons of Chicago, left the aircraft in order to return the fire but was struck and killed by the Cobra's main rotor blade.More or less simultaneously the command and control UH-1 had landed and its crew chief, SP5 Johnson, had disembarked to assist the Cobra crew. When he saw Captain Siddons on the ground, Johnson ran to him - and he too was struck and killed by the Cobra's blade. Both bodies were recovered, as was the uninjured Cobra pilot (Rodney K. Woods), and the Cobra itself was recovered, repaired, and flew again. The Army Adjutant General's casualty file contains multiple records for both Captain Siddon and SP5 Johnson:
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