Photo By Staff Sgt. Lyndsey Prax | Capt. Jonathan Johnson, a native of Lafayette, La., who is the commander of Company A,...... read more read more
By Sgt. Whitney Houston
Multi-National Division – Baghdad
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Today's Soldier in focus is Capt. Jonathan Johnson; he is a native of Lafayette, La., and commands 525 to 530 Soldiers assigned and attached to Company A, Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
Johnson earned a Bachelors degree in Engineering from West Point, and has shown his loyalty to his country by serving with the 4th Infantry Division on three separate deployments to Iraq. His position as commander has allotted him many valuable lessons through adversity by which he mentors and leads his Soldiers.
"I guess one of the most important lessons I've learned along the way is if you take care of your people they'll take care of you," said Johnson. "If they're taken care of, their productivity level increases. Another lesson I've learned is that a mission is a mission is a mission. You know, in the three years that I've been here, I've had missions from hanging a division banner off the side of a building to going outside the wire to detain a target or interrogating improvised-explosive devices, but you have to attack them with the same vigor as you would every other mission."
Johnson developed a love for his family and country that he said was heavily influenced in his youth by his grandfather; a World War II veteran, who was able to transcend his gift of love for country through his disciplined personality.
"Growing up, I would spend a lot of time at my grandparent's house during the summers, and my grandfather was a former Marine master sergeant, and he was one of those guys 'once a Marine always a Marine,' a World War II vet., and I was just very impressed with him, and I think that's what made me want to join the military," Johnson said.
Amidst all of Johnsons' life accomplishments, he said his crowning jewel was finding a woman who would be at his side through thick and thin; her name is Capt. Beth Johnson, and also serves with the 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, as an intelligence officer. When asked who was higher ranking Johnson wisely replied: "Whose higher ranking in the Army? I am, I mean she's a captain, but any guy who's married knows who's higher ranking in the house."
| Date Taken: | 12.17.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.17.2008 13:21 |
| Story ID: | 27817 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 144 |
| Downloads: | 23 |
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