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Father honors fallen son, first Arkansan to die in Iraq

"My Memorial Day started the day after I was notified he was gone"

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Even though 15 years have passed since Navy Hospital Corpsman (HM2) Michael Johnson Jr. died while helping wounded colleagues in Iraq, his loved ones reflect on his sacrifice every day.

Ahead of Memorial Day, Michael Johnson Sr. shared memories of his son and a request for those who hear his story.

“I think heroes are the ones you don't get to say thank you to,” Johnson Sr. said.

In his case, that hero is his eldest son, who died in combat six days shy of his 26th birthday.

Michael Johnson Jr. graduated from Little Rock Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School and attended the University of Central Arkansas before joining the Navy.

Shrapnel from a grenade struck and killed Johnson as he helped a wounded Marine on March 25, 2003. He was the first Arkansan killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to his father.

“My Memorial Day started the day after I was notified he was gone,” Johnson Sr. said.

And he has honored his son every day in the 15 years that have passed.

“We owe it to ourselves to understand how great it is to have freedom, but we must understand there's a price to pay and it's not in dollars and cents,” Johnson Sr. said.

It's a sacrifice honored by American Legion Post #74 in North Little Rock, which was renamed “Michael Vann Johnson Jr. American Legion Post #74”

In 2013, the Marines renamed the San Diego clinic where he worked at Johnson Hall.

Johnson Sr. said his son’s lasting impact leaves little room for sadness. He finds joy in sharing his story and in the moments of hope that have come amid his death.

“Having that parent feeling that my child passed when they were young, they didn’t get the chance to have children – two years after he had passed my oldest daughter got a phone call from a lady who told her that her brother had a little girl.”

Alexis, now 17, now lives with her grandfather in North Little Rock.

“Talking about a gift from above, this is the epitome,” Johnson Sr. said pointing at his granddaughter.

As they visit the grave of their hero at the Arkansas State Veteran’s Cemetery, the pair has a request for others this Memorial Day.

“Let’s understand what Memorial Day is and who it’s for, and let’s focus on that,” Johnson Sr. said. “It’s a shame that we can’t thank them, but as I said earlier, heroes are the ones that you don’t get a chance to thank.”

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