Tribute and Remembrance - Capt Steven B Johnston '68

2,085 Views | 11 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by F4GIB71
F4GIB71
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I don't remember Steve at A&M as he was an Air Force Senior when I was an Army fish. I switched to the AF my last semester. I met Steve and got to know him at George AFB where he was in the class ahead of me in F-4 training. We both had orders to go to the 8 TFW at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, although me a month or so later after graduating.

On January 4, 1973, Steve was flying AC-130 gunship escort over Laos. The gunships were very deadly to the Gomers but were also pretty vulnerable to AAA, so missions were flown at night. The escort's job was for flak suppression if the guns came up. They rolled in on.a gun but were hit while pulling off target. Both crew members ejected successfully. They talked to each other on their survival radios while in the chutes. They landed not far from each other. His pilot made his way to Steve but found him unconscious with a large tree limb on top of him. He apparently had broken his neck and died after about 15 minutes. The Gomers were all around, so the pilot moved to a better hiding place and was rescued.

Steve's body was never recovered. I check periodically on the DPAA website but no progress has been made. I remember him, especially on this day, 49 years to the day later. I'm not sure Rest in Peace is the right wish until his body is hopefully recovered some day.

His name is on the memorials at the entry to the Quad and the glass wall at the MSC.

I wanted to share this tribute and remembrance, on this day, of an Aggie who gave it all.

Here!
F4GIB71
BigJim49 AustinNowDallas
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AG
HERE!
BigJim49AustinnowDallas
Animal
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HERE!
Dawg6
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Here
OldArmyCT
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Rest Steve. My unit, the 281st AHC, still has ten left over there. 2 from my time there. Think about them every day.
chick79
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Here. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Nav
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Found this link.

https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=280963

https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/26503/STEVEN-B-JOHNSTON/

RIP.

HERE.
F4GIB71
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It's been 50 years today.

HERE
F4GIB71
aggiejim70
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Here

And I'd like to add a remembrance for my squad leader when I was fish.
Mike Noonan '68. KIA 4 July 1969.

Here
The person that is not willing to fight and die, if need be, for his country has no right to life.

James Earl Rudder '32
January 31, 1945
OldArmyCT
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As long as we're remembering '68 here is Jim Butler, My fish year was in Sqn 6 and he was my favorite sergebutt.

sharpdressedman
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Here. Another hero, never to be forgotten. Thanks for your tribute to him. What outfit was Steve Johnson in?
F4GIB71
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Steve was 2nd Wing Staff Operations Officer
F4GIB71
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