Jan Johnson:
CLASS OF 1974
Harris County High SchoolClass of 1974
Hamilton, GA
Floyd CollegeClass of 1998
Rome, GA
Jan's Story
Life
I am currently married to the same man, Joe, for over 37 years. We had three children, twins Joleen and Joshua, and Justin, who was killed in Iraq in April 2004. We live in northwest Ga. I have 2 beautiful granddaughters, Jordan, who is 6 and Justine, who is 3. There is a book that has been written about my son Justin and his buddies in Iraq called America Mourning. There is even a possible movie deal coming through. Right now I'm a stay at home grandma. My other son, Josh, is in the 7th Special Forces Group at Ft. Bragg, N.C. and my daughter and her girls live next door to me. Joe and I spend our off time showing support of our troops, here and abroad. As Gold Star Parents we think it is very important to continue to do that. We even traveled to Iraq the first part of Nov. 2006 as part of the Gold Star Parents Survey Group. It was amazing, seeing some of our troops in country and visiting all the historic places over there. I know if you knew me in school you're thinking...Jan...history...get real. That just shows you how people change.....I know I have.
My husband just left again to go back over to Iraq, this time with the Army Corp of Engineers. Even as a civilian we still believe in trying to support our troops and the people of Iraq by giving them better ways of life.
Well, I'll post a new update to the story. Joe is back home from Iraq. While there he was stationed on the same base that Justin was on. He was only 1 1/2 miles from where Justin was killed and on his last day there, the troops allowed him to accompany them on their route clearing mission. He got to visit the exact spot where Justin died. Doubt that there is any other parent who has had that priviledge. My son, Josh, is now out of the Army but is working as a civilian for a company who works with the military. He will still be doing basically the same job he was doing while in the military, just getting paid alot better. Today is my twins 30 birthday so I believe that is a milestone in my life. My granddaughters are now 7 and almost 5. I now ride with the group called Patriot Guard Riders. We are a group of bikers who go and protect the families of our Fallen Heroes at the funerals. They need protection because of the group of crazies out of Kansas who come and protest at our sons and daughters funerals. I am the newest Ride Captain in Georgia. This means I am responsible for making sure a mission I am in charge of goes off without any problems. You don't have to ride a motorcycle to belong either. I ride on the back of one of my friend's bikes. I started learning how to ride one by myself a couple of weeks ago. Needless to say, I spent 3 1/2 hours in the ER after I laid it down. Everyone was amazed that I sat there laughing about it but you can either laugh or cry...neither one really helps so you might as well laugh. Nothing was broken, just bruised and scratched and a hole in my right elbow. I've always heard it not "If you go down but when you go down". I now have that already out of the way. We are about to see Justin's 5 year mark. The PGR is having a bike ride in his memory on April 11 outside of Rome. If anyone who reads this is a rider and is interested in doing it that day, give me a yell. It is being called the 1st Annual SPC. Justin Johnson Memorial Bike Ride for the Fallen. We plan on putting this on for years to come to try to help raise money for projects in Chattooga and Floyd counties to honor our Fallen Heroes from all wars. I believe this is a great way to honor my son's sacrifice.
Latest update: Dec. 2009
I have gone to work for the post office as a Post Master Relief. Love getting the chance to meet all the people of our community. While it is small, their hearts are huge. Other than that, everything is pretty much the same with me. Still riding with the PGR, still standing for our Fallen Heroes and for Veterans.
Newest update: May 2011
I am no longer employed. I spend all my time working with the Patriot Guard Riders as the Assistant State Captain or The American Gold Star Mothers as the President for the Dept. of Georgia. My husband, Joe, is about to deploy once again, this time to Kosovo for a year. I will miss him dearly but will stay busy with everything I'm involved in. It's hard to believe my granddaughters are now 7 and almost 10...time sure flies. My son, Josh, is out of the military and doing work for them as a civilian. My daughter, Joleen, is hoping to go to work this fall as a parapro for the elementary school here in ...Expand for more
our small town.
Update Oct. 2011
Things have changed again. Boy, my life never stays the same for long. My son, Josh, now lives in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida where he is in charge of the office for L 3 Communications for 7th Special Forces Group at Eglin Air Base. My daughter and her family still live next door to me. My husband just shipped out yesterday for pre- training in Indiana before deploying overseas again for a year. A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor of being made the Dixie Regional Captain with the Patriot Guard Riders. I am now in charge of 6 states and the Caribbean territories. Can life get any fuller than this?
Update Mar. 2012
Well, we are 6 months into Joe's deployment overseas and he is about to come home for a 10 day leave. We are about to reach the 8 year anniversary of Justin's death....sometimes it seems like yesterday and sometimes it seems like forever ago. If anyone reads this who rides motorcycles, we will be honoring him and all of our Fallen Heroes from all the wars on April 7 with the 4th Annual Justin Johnson Memorial Bike Ride for the Fallen, beginning in Adairsville, Ga. and ending in Summerville, Ga. with a Memorial Service and then a live band for a couple of hours. Then the traditional Johnson bonfire at the house to end the day before taking Joe back to the airport on Easter Sunday to ship back out for a few more months. I'll be so glad when this deployment is over...it's been a long one.
Update March 2014
Well, Joe was injured in Kosovo so he is now stationed at Fort Benning in the Wounded Warrior unit. He is about to be medically retired from the Army so who knows what will happen then, possibly go back onto the mission field in South America. My granddaughters are now 12 and 9. Josh still lives in Ft. Walton Beach and Joleen still lives next door to us. Looks like there is going to be a class reunion in Aug. so hopefully I'll see some of you there. Still riding with the Patriot Guard Riders. We are about to have Justin's Memorial motorcycle ride on April 5. Hard to believe he has been gone for almost 10 yrs. now.
Update June 21, 2014
Well, this are still running pretty smooth. Joe is about to be medically retired from the Army in the next few months. Not sure how it is going to be around here, having him home all the time.
Today is the last day of our military career....yes, I include myself in there because I went through all but the first 2 years of his first enlistment. Joe has served 15+ years active over a 39 year period and is now medically retired after being injured overseas. We just got back last Monday evening from spending 3 1/2 weeks on the road, traveling to 15 different states and covering over 6400 miles seeing friends and family along the way. It was a bonding time for us, having been apart so much over the last 10 years. Who knows what the future will bring our way....only God knows for sure. Maybe we will end up back in South America living, working at the orphanage and helping build new churches in Ecuador like we have done before....were He leads, we will follow. Stay tuned.....
Well, Oct. 13, 2014 ended up being our last day of the military. We are officially medically retired. Now we are working on getting Joe's VA ratings raised....trying for 100%. My granddaughters are now 11 and almost 14....I remembered me at that age....I was hell on wheels and so are they. So now we are staying close to home but still hoping Ecuador is in our future again.
Believe it or not, I am actually a sophomore in college right now, majoring in Early Childhood Education and minoring in Spanish. I never planned on going to college but heck, I'm loving every minute of it! I actually made the Dean's List for the last two semesters if you can believe that...lol
Well, here it is now March 13, 2019 so I thought I'd update my story. I graduated from Ga. Highlands College last May with my Associates in Art, majoring in Spanish. I plan on going back this coming fall to finish up my Associates in Science, majoring in Early Childhood Education. My oldest granddaughter, Jordan, graduates high school this May, in the top 10 of her class. Justine, our granddaughter who will turn 15 next month, is into every sport you can think of, basketball, softball, track, soccer, and considering going out for cheerleadering next year. She is in the top of her class too. Hope to see a lot of you guys at the reunion this fall. Been too many years since I've seen most of you. Hope to get the chance to catch up with you.
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