SGT David Keith Johnson 1948 - 1970 Flint, Michigan

SGT David Keith Johnson
BIRTH
15 Jan 1948
Flint, Genesee County, Michigan, USA
DEATH
26 May 1970 (aged 22)
Thừa Thiên-Huế, Vietnam
BURIAL
Sunset Hills Cemetery
Flint, Genesee County, Michigan, USA
PLOT
Section 7, Lot E312, Grave 8
MEMORIAL ID
172194247 · View Source
MEMORIAL
PHOTOS 2
FLOWERS 4
Wall Name:DAVID K JOHNSON
Date of Birth: 1/15/1948
Date of Casualty: 5/26/1970
Home of Record: FLINT
County of Record: GENESEE COUNTY
State: MI
Branch of Service: ARMY
Rank: SGT
Panel/Row:10W, 104
Casualty Province: THUA THIEN

INFORMATION FROM THE VIRTUAL VIETNAM VETERANS WALL OF FACES.
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Home of Record: Flint, Michigan
Date of birth: Thursday, 01/15/1948

MILITARY DATA
Service: Army (Regular)
Grade at loss: E4
Rank: Sergeant (See Note below)
ID No: 386508890
MOS: 67B2F O-1/U-6 Airplane Repairman (Flight)
LenSvc: Not recorded
Unit: HHC, 326TH MED BN, 101 ABN DIV
Note: E4 at loss. Posthumous Promotion as indicated

CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: Saturday, 07/19/1969
Cas Date: Tuesday, 05/26/1970
Age at Loss: 22
Remains: Body Recovered
Location: Thua Thien, South Vietnam
Type: Hostile, Died
Reason: Air Loss, Crash - Land - Helicopter - Crew

ON THE WALL Panel 10W Line 104



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Notes from The Wall:

26 Mar 1997
Davey and Eddie

Davey Johnson and Eddie Williams. Two of the best in one of the best units: Eagle Dustoff. Both were crew chiefs. Our hooch consisted of them, their respective medics (who I haven't remembered yet, just faces but those are clear) and myself.

Eddie was the typical all american kid: blond, blue eyes, had that look that mothers loved and fathers hated. Easy with a smile and showed no fear. We had all our plans set for when we got out. Each was going to go home for a couple weeks to see the folks. Then I was going to his home town where he had a friend that sold motorcycles cheap. After that we were off to see America via the old Route 66. You know the plan, work small jobs, party every night, break all the young ladies' hearts.

Eddie was a good crew chief, treated that Huey like a man in love with his machine. His last pilot drove him a little crazy because he liked to bush hop, but Eddie had faith in that machine and his own skills. And Eddie liked to show me things. He showed me how to cinch your strap so when you stood on the skids you could get just the right angle to lean out and be able to see what the rescue hoist was doing. He showed me the Bhudda in the valley for the first time.

Eddie never seemed to let things get him too much, but I know that was just surface. If things had gone bad, a rescue had turned out futile, he got that glazy look that many had; but with Eddie there was always that smile and laughing words.

On that last night, Eddie and I sat listening to his music talking our plans just three months off.

Davey Johnson was a big man. Had that walk that many big men have; you know, that kind of stiff legged walk where his whole body seemed to swivel from side to side. The only thing bigger than his body was his heart. Davey knew that my family never wrote and his family was one of those really close knit ones. First, he got his mother writing to me and sending ME my very own care packages. Then his sister starts writing me and then all her girl friends at the university. Mail got to be a good time.

Davey liked to wrestle, I guess cause he was so big and could. I remember one day he started to wrestle with me. I didn't really want to but Davey never did hear too well when he wanted to do something. After a few minutes of pain, I decided enough. I got Davey up on my shoulders and then dropped him. Never piss off a bear. Davey picked me up, tossed me through the ammo box shelves and stomped off. Guess he didn't like the airplane ride.

After Eddie's death, Davey cut up the tail rotor chain from Eddie's ship and made each of us a non-removable bracelet. I know that may sound a little disrespectful, but believe me it wasn't. The chain had been a part of Eddie's ship, and that machine had been a part of Eddie.

About a year ago, I decided to try and find Davey; the time was right. Someone told me that if I contacted the army for a roster of my unit, got Davey's SSN, that I might be able to trace him. I did, and I did. Fate had decided that Davey should join Eddie and the two medics (guys forgive me, I do remember you).

When next we meet, don't laugh at how old my body got, my memories are still young. Now my soul? That has gotten older than God himself.

Guys, look down and meet some new friends of mine. There's Gene'o and C4, H, Mo and Druid, Doghandler and Carol, Mike, Trixie, Monte, Brazilla, Habu, Demaj, Saint, Snake, Art, Parson, Ken and some others. They knew you guys, you knew them.

Sweet

The original memorial is located at

4 Dec 2004

I never knew or got to meet SGT David Keith Johnson nor his pilots, CW2 Edward Terry O'Brien and WO1 Bruce Elliot Graham. However, their medic, SGT William Edward Hawkins, was my best friend. They paid the Ultimate price trying to save the lives of other brothers on the ground. As I understand it, they had to hover and drop a Stokes litter to pick up the wounded as it was too dense to land and the squad that the wounded were in was still taking fire.

Billy's fiance told me that she'd recieved a letter from the wounded soldier, who'd just been lashed into the Stokes litter and was about to be lifted, when the RPG hit their chopper. He'd written her as soon after the incident as he was able, to let her know how it'd happened. I've never known how accurate it was, as I've never been in contact with those that were there at the time.

What I do know is that what they did required incredible valor, complete control of their fear, and great Love. (Our Lord said it best when he said: "No greater Love has any man, but that he should lay down his life for another.")

I would love to hear from anyone that served with them at the time they were in the same crew ... Dick Sweet, if you would please contact me. I will be putting more information about William Edward Hawkins in a memorial for him.

May God Bless these, and all of our Service Men and Women who have, and continue to go in Harm's Way on our behalf.

From a friend of one of Dave's crewmates,
William S. Johnson III (Corky)
[contact link]
A Note from The Virtual Wall
Four men of the 326th Medical Battalion died when their UH-1H (tail number 69-15139) was hit in the fuel cell area by a rocket-propelled grenade, crashed, and burned.

CW2 Edward Terry O'Brien, pilot
WO1 Bruce Elliot Graham, copilot
SGT William Edward Hawkins, medic
SGT David Keith Johnson, crew chi

Jenny Lou Carlisle
[contact link]
Cousin
Still missing you
It's been so long, but I still remember.It still feels like you're out there somewhere and I know in truth you are. I found some of your letters not long ago. All those plans so close at hand, but never to be. I found a memorial to you and Eddy today. I cried because I remembered you telling me the same story. Sure do miss you, Big guy!
Thursday, May 11, 2000


Armond "Si" Simmons
[contact link]
A fellow DUSTOFF crewman
104 Wadsworth Lane
Pell City, AL 35128 USA
DUSTOFF Vietnam Memorial

On behalf of fellow DUSTOFFers, please accept my condolences to the family of our comrade, David Johnson. I invite family and friends to visit the official webpage of The DUSTOFF Association, a nonprofit organization for Army Medical Department enlisted and officer personnel, aviation crewmembers, and others who are (or ever were) engaged in (or actively supported in any capacity) Army aeromedical evacuation programs in war or peace. Many loved ones of our fallen comrades have found solace in visiting the site, found friends who served with their loved one and enjoyed having their family become a part of their loved one's DUSTOFF family, a relationship that we fellow DUSTOFFers cherish and respect. All the best - Si Simmons - [contact link] -The DUSTOFF Association webpage: - - My DUSTOFF wepage: -
Tuesday, November 18, 2003