Rakkasan Battalion Commander's Son Plays in Army All-American Bowl

Photo By Sgt. Cassandra Groce | Lt. Col. Nathaniel Johnson (front and center) watches a television in a coneference room in Samarra, Iraq. A satellite was moved to the roof of the office for his son's game, and the reception battled weather conditions the whole night.  

SAMARRA, IRAQ

01.09.2006

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

PFC Cassandra Groce
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

SAMARRA, Iraq (January 7, 2006) " For the men and women of the armed services it is always difficult to handle missing special events while they are deployed, especially when it comes to the accomplishments of their children.

Lt. Col. Nathanial "Skip" Johnson II, the commander of the Iron Rakkasans of the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team in Iraq knows this too well. He has proudly watched, as often as possible throughout his military career, his two older sons grow into men, pursue college degrees and play football.

Now his youngest son, Micah, a 17-year-old senior at Ft. Campbell High School, was selected to play as a middle linebacker on the Army All-American Football East Team. Micah was one of only 78 high school football players chosen throughout the country.

"I was jumping all around here [office in Iraq] when I found out he was selected," said Johnson proudly.

The seniors are picked for their performance and accomplishments as team players. Micah was named Kentucky Mr. Football and was the only Department of Defense athlete picked for the Army All-American Football Team.

The players are together for one week before the game, which is the culmination of the activities.

"It's an opportunity to join two great entities and their values - the Army and the future leaders," said Johnson. "Football is the mechanism that brings it together."

Lt. Col. Johnson strongly believes that football enforces values like discipline, work ethics, sacrifice, dedication and leadership.

"I see these in my sons," said Johnson. "The same values represented by our men and women in the Army, these students have to have."

Lt. Col. Johnson was not sure if he would get to watch Micah's football game due to his duties and technological restraints. However, he was on the front row in a conference room in Iraq watching his son's game on television Saturday.

"It's special watching them play," said Johnson who has also watched his son Christian play for the University of Kentucky on television. "They've stayed focused even though we moved a lot as a military family."

Micah's team, the East, won beating West 27 - 16 in the game.

Micah has been playing football for approximately ten years and grew up in a family who supported the Dallas Cowboys.

"Before he was old enough to play, he"d watch his brothers," said Johnson. "I love it. I like the fact that all three play and are competitive."

Micah plans to team up with his brother Christian to play for the University of Kentucky on a football scholarship next fall.

Lt. Col. Johnson's oldest son, Nathanial Johnson III, is transferring from Laney College in California to the University of Kentucky to be with his two younger brothers and finish his degree in Education. He has not yet decided whether he will try out for the football program or not, he is still thinking about it. Either way, he will definitely be pursuing his educational goals of completing his undergraduate program and going on to graduate school which makes his father very proud.

Lt. Col. Johnson wishes he could cheer his sons" games on in person, but insists that being in Iraq is part of life as a Soldier.

"Every Soldier that's deployed is sacrificing something important [to them] right now," said Johnson. "I'm proud of all of them [his sons] and all they've accomplished. Being away from family is tough, but I have an extended family - the Rakkasan family."

• Date Taken: 01.09.2006
• Date Posted: 01.09.2006 10:55
• Story ID: 5025
• Location: SAMARRA, IQ