Posted by Geoff Prosch on August 14, 2025:

Eulogy James H. Johnston USMA 1969 April 1947-June 2025 Jim Johnston was a man of courage and conviction. He was a straight arrow, Eagle Scout who embodied the Scout values and served as a Scout volunteer all his life. Jim and I became life-long friends while serving as platoon leaders and company commanders together in the renowned 1st Battalion 7th Cavalry in Vietnam 1970 - 1971. Jim and I arrived in Vietnam in the summer of 1970 - Jim from the 8th Infantry Division in Germany and myself from the 82d Airborne Division at Ft Bragg. Halfway through our Vietnam duty tours, I became the Adjutant/S1, and Jim was selected as the elite scout platoon leader. We were promoted to CPT 4 June 1971 -- two years after our graduation from West Point with the class of 1969 (Best of the Line). Shortly after promotion, our Bravo Company Commander was seriously wounded and medevac'd to the U.S. and the Delta Company Commander was relieved of command. Jim and I were summoned to the battalion headquarters at Fire Base Green. The battalion commander LTC Alfred E. Spry told us that he was putting Jim in command of Bravo company and me in command of Delta company, with one caveat -- we had to extend our Vietnam tours of duty. Jim and I look at each other, nodded, and agreed to extend and "drive on." While in command, Jim saved me and my soldiers' lives in September 1971. Here is the story. Does everyone know the difference between a fairy tale and a war story? A fairy tale starts out "once upon a time," and a war story begins with "this is no baloney." We were engaged in "search and destroy" operations in War Zone D, 3 Corps section of South Vietnam. We were a light infantry, air assault unit. Our main enemies were the Viet Cong and the 33rd Regiment North Vietnam Army. One night during a heavy rainstorm, we in Delta Company experienced heavy movement outside our company perimeter. Trip wires went off, and we had incoming machine gun fire. Unfortunately, we were outside radio contact with Fire Base Green. Jim's Bravo Company was located halfway between us and the fire base, and Jim was able to relay and adjust my calls for 155mm howitzer artillery fire support - walking the rounds into and stopping just short of our perimeter. With Jim's artillery fire and monsoon rainfall, we were able to break out of the NVA encirclement and move to safety. After breaking out, Jim called in fire for effect and an air strike on our old company night defense position killing and dispersing the NVA. We are proud of Jim and his service. We are pleased that Barbara will one day be able to join Jim in Arlington National Cemetery - for all eternity - and with her name engraved on the back of Jim's tombstone. When we enter the Iwo Jima back gate of Fort Myer now and drive to the commissary, we can look to the left at the new Arlington cemetery addition, and wave at Jim's grave saying, "Old Soldier, may it be said Well done, be thou at peace."

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