Charles Johnson:
CLASS OF 1974
Murray High SchoolClass of 1974
Murray, KY
Charles's Story
Left Murray looking for a challenge. Joined the Marines completed boot camp at Parris Island South Carolina. Reported to Camp Geiger for Infantry Training School. Upon completion I was assigned to 2nd Battalion 4th Marines, Camp Schwab Okinawa, Japan. I did 2 deployments with 2/4 followed by short deployment to Demark, Belgium, Germany and England where we trained with Marines from those countries,
November of 1983 I volunteered for assignment to UNITAS where I deployed in 1984 and 1985 on back to back 6 month training missions. Our detachment cross trained with Marines from Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil, we did not train with Argentina due to the Falkland Islands crisis. We conducted training in call for fire, amphibious landings, helicopter borne training, rubber boat training and numerous live fire exercises. January of 1986 I volunteered for Drill Instructor duty and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. Upon completion I was assigned to Alpha Company; were I was a Junior drill instructor a Senior Drill instructor and meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant and served as a Chief Drill instructor. I was then assigned to Auburn University NROTC where I trained future Marine 2nd Lieutenants and Navy Ensigns; during the summer months of 1989,90,and 91 I was assigned temporary additional duty Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Virginia. Were as a Drill Instructor I trained Officer Candidates, ( boot camp.)
After almost 6 years outside my infantry MOS, Headquarters USMC; cut orders for me to, 2nd Battalion 5th Marines, Camp Pendleton, California; I reported for duty March 1993. My unit 2/5 was designated as Marine Expeditionary Unit/ Special Operations. We had a very intense 6 month training cycle; preparing numerous special ops. In October 1993 Blackhawk Down occurred. 2/5 was responsible for pulling all U. S. Forces out of Mogadishu “Operation QuickDraw.” After turning the port of Mogadishu over to UN forces we back loaded and remained off the coast of Somalia. Shortly thereafter, an AC 130 gunship went down in the surf off the coast of Kenya. Our unit conducted TRAP mission tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel.
During our deployment civil war was heating up between Burundi and Rwanda. Once again 2/5 was called upon to extract the Ambassador of Burundi out of danger. A long range night time helicopter extraction was conducted ( Operation Distant Runner) the Ambassador was taken aboard the USS Pelilu and eventually returned stateside. 6 long month deployment finally ended and I returned to Camp Pendleton. As a Gunnery Sergeant I crossed over to 3rd Battalion 5th Marines and assigned as Weapons Platoon commander. We were deployed to Camp Hansen Okinawa Japan. Designated as 32nd Marine
Expeditionary Unit and deployed to South Korea to train with the ROK Marines (Republic of Korea.) I was moved to the billet of Company Gunny Lima Company and coor...Expand for more
dinated the returned stateside to Camp Pendleton. Upon returning I volunteered for the Staff Non/Commissioned Officers Academy. I was promoted to Master Sergeant and served as a
platoon advisor/ instructor teaching Infantry Battalion Operations and various other Infantry related courses to Gunnery Sergeants.
Nearing my 20 year mark I enrolled in San Diego police academy attending an extended nights and weekends academy were I finished top of my class. I was hired by Riverside Sheriff Department while still having 60 days of active duty left. I reported for training and subsequent assignment as a patrol deputy Perris Station (February 2001) approximately one year I lateraled to Hemet Police Department Hemet, California. While with Hemet PD I worked patrol after approximately 8 months openings for SWAT became available. Myself and another Marine were selected and sent to Camp Pendleton for 2 week SWAT school. As a team member I participated in several missions mostly high risk search warrants.
My next assignment was as a Detective on the Crime Suppression Unit (CSC) a street level dope team. I worked CSU for almost 5 years; working informants for drug info, undercover patrol, probation and parole search’s. In 2009 an opening became available for Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force region 3. Working as a gang detective I ran into several gang members I had arrested for drug possession/sales while in CSU. During my tenure as a gang detective I became a victim along with my family. An individual I had arrested as a dope cop, began orchestrating several attacks at my work and home using various homemade devices he had learned from White Supremacy Manual! Removed from internet after stand conviction of this person!
Those devices were punji boards , zip guns, rocket made from an 81 mm mortar, arson more zip guns placed on my city take home vehicle. It became so dangerous I sent my father back to Murray. My son went to Michigan with his mother, rest of my family moved out of Hemet near 29 Palms to avoid any further attacks. DNA from a piece of duct tape revealed a match and the person was arrested. Eventually the subject was convicted and now still serving live in prison in San Diego California. All 9 attacks are full page articles in the Press-Enterprise Riverside County by web search ( attacks Hemet Gang Task Force Attacks Hemet PD , Detective Chuck Johnson Hemet PD. The 13 month long nightmare finally over the City of Hemet gave me a full medical retirement. I had no choice not wanting to retire because I was Gang Detective of the year and recognized by America’s Most Wanted!
After a couple of years fishing I had to get back to work around Marines and Cops! I landed a job as rangemaster at WEGC West End Gun Club Lytle Creek Fontana California. Ive been there for 5 years.
I wrote a book titled “Target Cop” chronicling the 13 month long attacks.
More recently I still attend Marine Birthday Balls every 10 November!
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