Victor Johnson celebrated at June 2016 Veteran of the Month

Covington native Victor Johnson was recently honored as the June Veteran of the Month by the Tipton County Veterans Council at a ceremony held at the Tipton County Museum, Veteran Memorial and Nature Center in Covington.

Nominated by City of Covington District 1 Alderwoman Minnie Bommer who told those gathered for the recognition ceremony that Victor grew up here and he makes us all proud all the time and we are really glad to have him back in Covington,” said Bommer. “I am proud of you Victor and I was so please to do the nomination and so overjoyed that they selected you. If anyone deserves it, you do.”

Following in the footsteps of his father, William A. Johnson, who served in World War II, Johnson, a 1975 graduate of Covington High School, joined the U.S. Army on Aug. 17, 1975, just after the Vietnam War ended.

Setting a personal goal to complete 20 years, Johnson worked hard to do just that.  Serving during the Cold War meant he spent the majority of his tours in and about Germany providing tactical contingency communications to European Command (EUCOM) and NATO missions within the EUCOM and United States Central Command (CENTCOM) areas of operations.  He also served as a battalion maintenance supervisor and took those skills to Iraq during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm where he was responsible for the training, welfare, professional development, discipline and combat readiness of 63 soldiers under his command. While in Iraq, his quick thinking, response and medical skills were instrumental in saving the lives of two soldiers during Operation Desert Storm. For his fortitude, commitment and valor during his two-decade career, he was awarded numerous commendations including, two Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals and six Army Good Conduct Medals. He was also awarded several service and campaign medals including a National Defense Service Medal, an Army of Occupation Medal, a Southwest Asia Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, a Kuwait Liberation Medal, an Army Service Ribbon and four Overseas Service Ribbons.

Not one to sit still, Johnson went right back to work after retiring from a successful military career as a sergeant first class (E7), working as a machine operator for Lydell Manufacturing and as a line technician for Unilever, both in Covington. He also became a licensed real estate agent for Tate Realty in Memphis. Johnson is a member of Canaan Baptist Church in Covington where he serves as a deacon and he is the proud father of four children and equally proud grandfather of 13.

Kathy Desjarlais, president of the Tipton County Veterans Council, read the certificate of honor given to Johnson for his selection as the June Veteran of the Month.

“It is with heartfelt appreciation of your tireless efforts in support of our United States military, the Tipton County Museum, Veterans Memorial and Nature Center in partnership with the Tipton County Veteran Council gratefully acknowledges your service as our veteran of the month,” read Desjarlais. “Your dedication to our country is commendable and an honorable addition to the fight for freedom throughout the world.”

“I really appreciate the honor,” said Johnson. “During my 20 years in service I really enjoyed the military, but you remember that movie, Private Benjamin? That’s how they got me,” he added to laughter from the audience, explaining that after high school a slick talking recruiter told him and a group of friends that they wouldn’t have to cut their hair and if they got tired of being the military they could just leave and go home.

“This guy was talking this line for about 30 minutes and said why don’t we just take the test and see how we do. So the next day we went to take the test and out of 10 guys, only two passed the test, me and Tony [a friend]. Then he asked us where we wanted to go to boot camp? We’d never been out of Tipton County, so he said, ‘how about California?’ and we thought that was fine. Good you’re leaving tomorrow, he said,” remembered Johnson to more laughter.

Johnson said although he may have started his time in the military a bit naive, he readily enjoyed the educational broadening and seeing the world.

“In Germany, I was at Bamberg, Berlin, Stuttgart and Frankfort. Being overseas really was a learning experience…. going to Berlin and seeing the [Berlin Wall] and then seeing it torn down was an experience,” he said.

He said that the life lessons the military taught him made him appreciate what he does have.

“One life lesson the military taught me was patience,” he added. “Enjoy life because life is not promised. God is always first in everything that I do and being in the war and seeing death and destruction, but knowing that God will carry me through it, meant a lot to me. I’d like for young people, to try to get closer to God and to put God first in their lives. They can accomplish anything if they put God first.”