Jim Johnson:  

After graduating from CHS I enrolled at Mt. SAC and had the usual problems adjusting to college courses, but managed to keep my grades up and also play on the basketball team my freshman and sophomore year. However, my playing days came to an abrupt end during the latter period after I had fallen behind on required research for an English 1A term paper. I had underestimated the amount of time involved and as the "due date" loomed closer I cut practice for three days to write the paper. It seemed like the logical course of action at the time, but my coach felt otherwise and I was unceremoniously dropped from the team. Fortunately, however, I received a decent grade on the paper, passed the course and was eligible to transfer to a four year college. Of course I could have done a a better job managing both my classroom requirements and basketball practice, but I was nineteen at the time and simply a little immature. I learned a hard lesson, but I'm damn glad I passed the course as it eventually led to a number of later opportunities. In spite of not playing much basketball my sophomore year, I was contacted by representatives from St. Mary's University, a small Jesuit university located in northern California. They had seen me play and extended a scholarship offer. I thought about it, but for whatever reason I ultimately declined and instead enrolled at San Jose State. It was a wee bit challenging -- 45,000 students, few friends, demanding classes, and perhaps too much beer -- but I gradually made the transition and slowly got with the program. To help pay my expenses I worked as an usher at the school's theatre productions ($1.25 an hour) and as a Recreational Leader for the City of Sunnyvale -- a great job and lots of fun -- and even won the city championship with my "under 12" boys football team. During my senior year I received my pre-induction notice from the local Selective Service Board. I applied for a student deferment but my application was denied -- someone probably looked at my GPA. Rather than wait for the official "greetings letter" I enlisted in the Marine Corps with an option for a six month delay. This decision changed the direction of the rest of my life, as I would spend the next 27 years involved with the Corps. I graduated from SJS in June of 1965 with a BA in liberal studies and then moved home to West Covina to await receipt of my active duty orders. In the interim I was offered a job with the City of West Covina as a recreation leader, and was paired with a beatutiful young lady who would later become my bride. Allison and I have two lovely daughters, four wonderful grandchildren, and will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary in June of 2016. Without a doubt she is as attractive and strong willed today as when we first met, plus she remains a loving mother, is adored by our grandchildren, and has helped to make me a better person -- well, somewhat better -- by being my partner and "coach" for life. Along the way she also made a difference in the lives of many children she taught as a reading specialist with the Bellevue, WA, school district. As for the Marine Corps, in October of 1965 I received orders to the Officer's Candidate School in Quantico, VA. Even now I remember how difficult it was --emotionally and physically -- and was fortunate to complete the course and receive a commission as a second lieutenant in December. In May of 1966 I completed the five month Officer's Basic School (Basic Infantry) and was then assigned for further training as a TPQ-10 radar based air strike controller. Allison and I were married the following month, as I was told the training could take from 6 to 12 months, thus allowing us plenty of time to spend together. Well, just four months later I was in Viet Nam working as both an Air Strike Controller (bomb dropper) and Senior Air Director (cordinated close air support missions, troop inserts, extracs, supply missions, and med-evas). I participated in numerous combat operations, but was never a hero; however, I was privileged to serve with many Marines who displayed incredible acts of courage under fire. About 8% of my classmates from The Basic School lost their lives in Viet Nam, including two friends -- John Bobo (Medal of Honor) and Gatlin Jerry Howell (Navy Cross). If you have a chance, look them both up on Google to understand something about duty, honor, committment and courage -- two nice guys doing the extraordinary! As for me, I completed my tour after 13 months and was then sent to the Weapons Controller Training School (Air to Air and Ground to Air Missle Intercepts) at Marine Corps Base, 29 Palms, CA. Once I completed the training I was reassigned as the Officer in Charge of the course. I had a great Commanding Officer and after a year of duty at the Marine Base he arranged for me to be transferred to the Naval Station at Los Alamitos, CA, as an Inspector-Instructor with a Marine Reserve unit. Among my collateral duties was serving as our unit's Casualty Notification and Assistance Officer -- among my toughest assignments while in the Corps. I was released from active duty in December of 1970 and voluntarily transferred to the Organized Marine Corps Reserve, where I continued to serve in various roles as a "weekend warrior" with the Fourth Marine Air Wing and Fourth Marine Division for the next 22 years. I was fortunate to have some good assignments, attended a number of staff planning schools, and received a few promotions along the way. In 1990 I was recalled to active duty in Seattle to take charge of mobilizing Individual Marine Reserve's in the Pacific Northwest in support of Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield. I spent about three months on active duty managing the mobilization process, and was scheduled to ...Expand for more