Michelle Malkin » Help the Johnson family; Update: Corrected info for memorial fund

Help the Johnson family; Update: Corrected info for memorial fund

By Michelle Malkin • October 21, 2007 08:53 PM

Update: If you want to donate to the Johnson family fund, here’s the corrected information:

The correct name of the account is the “Ashley and Logan Johnson Memorial Fund.” People who wish to contribute can go into any Bank of America banking center in the United States and make a contribution. They will also need to tell the bank associate that the account is domiciled in Texas.

***
The Dallas Morning News reports today on a terrible tragedy that has fallen an Iraq war veteran:

Army Spc. John Austin Johnson seemed to have a gift for evading tragedy.

During two years in Iraq, the soldier from Fort Bliss, in West Texas, survived five improvised explosive device blasts and several grenade attacks.

“A lot of people go through one IED and don’t survive,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Eugene Schmidt.

But Spc. Johnson’s luck began to turn with the last IED blast, which left him with a traumatic brain injury. Back in Texas for care at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, he was eagerly awaiting a visit by his wife and three children last weekend.

But the children never arrived.

“I went up to his room and told him there was a problem,” said Sgt. Schmidt, an Army medic who has grown close to the family over the last week. “I told him there was an accident and two of his children were deceased.
How to Help

“He said, ‘Two of my children are dead?’ And we started crying.”

Local charities and volunteers have pulled together to help the family:

As word of the family’s loss spread, support from the military, businesses and strangers poured in. One anonymous donor provided five burial plots in the veterans’ section of Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander, Ark., where Spc. Johnson’s grandfather is buried. Another purchased markers for Logan and Ashley.

American Airlines provided seven roundtrip tickets to the funeral, set for Tuesday in Alexander, Ark., and groups such as Soldiers’ Angels, Warrior & Family Support Center and Operation Provide Comfort took care of hotel accommodations, food and travel expenses between West Texas and Dallas.

“It’s been a pleasure and an honor to help them,” Mrs. White-Brunner said.

The Johnsons have been amazed by the flood of support.

“They’re really overwhelmed with gratitude from everybody,” Sgt. Schmidt said. “They’re very humble people. Everyone’s coming together.”

You can help:

Donations to help the family cover expenses can be made to the John A. and Monalisa Johnson Fund at any Bank of America.

~ For the latest breaking news, be sure to join Michelle's e-mail list ~

Posted in: Worthy Causes

Printer Friendly

comments (20)

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Comments

#1

On October 21st, 2007 at 9:12 pm, Jim M. said:

God Bless them.

It would be nice if the outpouring of sympathy expressed last week in Congress for the care of families making $45,000 per year living comfortable, safe, lives would extend to the care of our soldiers, sailors amd marines and their families making far less than $45,000 per year and living a less than spartan life, yet ever willing to sacrifice all for their country.

If the Democrats supported the troops as much as them claim to do, reliance on the private sector in cases like Spc. Johnson’s would not be required.
#2

On October 21st, 2007 at 9:25 pm, trinitytim said:

God Bless them.

It would be nice if the outpouring of sympathy expressed last week in Congress for the care of families making $45,000 per year living comfortable, safe, lives would extend to the care of our soldiers, sailors amd marines and their families making far less than $45,000 per year and living a less than spartan life, yet ever willing to sacrifice all for their country.

If the Democrats supported the troops as much as them claim to do, reliance on the private sector in cases like Spc. Johnson’s would not be required.

Amen!!! That about covers it.
#3

On October 21st, 2007 at 9:35 pm, meatpieandtatters said:

God bless them. The cruelties of life are only redeemed when good people are free to do the right thing.
#4

On October 21st, 2007 at 9:54 pm, ACHefty said:

Words cannot express. Therefore, I will only state that my prayers are with them.
#5

On October 21st, 2007 at 10:14 pm, zorro said:

May God Rest their Souls.
#6

On October 21st, 2007 at 10:17 pm, claywginn said:

Thanks for posting this Michelle. My prayers go out to the entire family.
#7

On October 21st, 2007 at 11:11 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

I can only add that my tears are not just filling my eyes. My heart hurts. GOD, bring them peace and bless them with a huge showing of love.
#8

On October 21st, 2007 at 11:59 pm, Sethery said:

The article reports that their surviving 9-year-old child, Tyler, is on life support. I cannot fathom the sorrow and fear they must be feeling. My prayers are with them, and especially Tyler.
#9

On October 22nd, 2007 at 12:09 am, AM_42 said:

Donations can also be made through Soliers Angels.
See the bottom of this Mudville Gazette article for contact info.
#10

On October 22nd, 2007 at 2:42 am, gippergirl said:

May God be with this entire family.
#11

On October 22nd, 2007 at 8:10 am, sfcmac said:

That is so incredibly sad. My thoughts are with him and his wife. I can’t imagine what that young couple is going through. The Army and related groups will step up to help him financially and medically, but the psychological trauma may never be overcome. Jim M, you are right on the money. Instead of the democrats mouthing their usual asinine “culture war” crap, they would do better to focus on people in real need.
#12

On October 22nd, 2007 at 8:41 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

My Lord and my God.

You all have cpatured my feelings.

This is heart-wrenching…
#13

On October 22nd, 2007 at 8:41 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

captured
#14

On October 22nd, 2007 at 9:38 am, MissMarciLyn said:

“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

My prayers are with them…
#15

On October 22nd, 2007 at 10:34 am, walterc said:

This is so painful for me, I can barley find the words. My gratitude to Spec Johnson and his family for his service in this horibble fight aginst Islam is being overwhelmed by my sadness for their tragedy.

May god bless and keep the souls of those precious babies and protect and comfort these fine people as they watch and pray over Tyler.

Why didn’t I hear about this on Fox? Oh that’s right, The Red Sox won a baseball game, the GOP had a debate and Britney got to see her kids.

As sad as the Johnsons plight is (it is almost overwhelming to me), the sadness of knowing that they didn’t even deserve a small footnote in the MSM makes me angry.
#16

On October 22nd, 2007 at 10:35 am, Thunderbird 1 said:

There you go again, you “heartless” right-wing blogger, “stalking” another family who is the victim of an unfortunate accident. When will you ever learn, Michelle?

Okay, I write with that tone to point out that it never ceases to amaze me how often you mobilize your readers to do some good for families in need, especially those of our military. That is why toss-off insults like the Newsweek/CW mention last week bother me so much, for creating such unfortunate misperceptions. Those of us who read you daily know better.

That family is in good hands now, and I’m sure any assistance they receive through publicity like you offer here will be most effective. God bless you and God bless the Johnson family and all of their benefactors.
#17

On October 22nd, 2007 at 11:45 am, feebiebabe said:

God bless them.
#18

On October 22nd, 2007 at 12:13 pm, terrig said:

God grant them the courage to go on and blessings on them. Jim M. just adding as well my thoughts that you nailed it too.
#19

On October 22nd, 2007 at 4:51 pm, jkotter said:

I live in El Paso where Spc. Johnson lives. The local media have done an outstanding job of covering this story and a local credit union has also started a fund to help the family out.
#20

On November 5th, 2007 at 10:35 am, strykerdad said:

More Grim news today for this young couple. Their oldest child Tyler, age nine, also passed away yesterday in a Dallas hospital.

The good book says that God won’t yoke us with a burden that’s too heavy for us to bear, but this is almost too much even for my heart to witness. I can’t imagine the grief this young couple and their families are experiencing. Lord please touch them with your tender mercy and ease their tremendous suffering.