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<p><em>James Houston “Jim” Johnson Jr.</em> was born on December 16, 1937 in Tuscaloosa, AL. Jim was the oldest child of James H. Johnson and Betty LeBoy. Jim’s father grew up in Tuscaloosa and was a member of the Crimson Tide football team, playing in Alabama’s first two Rose Bowl games in 1926 and 1927. During World War II, he was called to active duty by the Army National Guard and deployed with the 75th Infantry Division, first to England and then on to France. The division was committed to combat at the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, where Jim’s father served as an infantry battalion commander throughout the entire fight. After the war, he remained in Germany with the U.S. Army Occupation Forces. The rest of the family joined him in 1947 (Jim, his mother, and younger brother, Bill), and they remained in Germany for the next two-and-a-half years. After returning to the United States in 1949, the family settled in Northern Virginia.</p>
<p>It was in Virginia that Jim finished middle school and high school. He excelled academically and played varsity basketball, baseball and football (serving as captain of the basketball team). During his high school years, Jim became more and more attracted to West Point, inspired by its enduring values of Duty, Honor, Country. Ultimately, Jim sought and obtained an appointment to the United States Military Academy, joining the Class 1960. During his four years as a cadet, Jim was most proud of his time spent with the West Point Track and Field Team. As a First Classman, he equaled the Academy record for the indoor high hurdles, while finishing in first place against a very strong Navy team at Annapolis.</p>
<p>Upon graduation from West Point, Jim was commissioned in the Infantry and proceeded to Fort Benning, GA to attend the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ranger School, and Airborne School. His first assignment was as a rifle platoon leader with Company B, 2nd Airborne Battle Group, 501st Infantry Regiment. This two-year tour of duty at Fort Bragg, NC was significant for two reasons: first, after only 18 months of service in the U.S. Army, Jim was entrusted with command of a rifle Ccompany in the 82nd Airborne Division; and, more importantly, this was the time during which he married the love of his life, Edna Matthews, from Woodhaven, NY. She turned out to be the most positive force in his life from that day forward.</p>
<p>In a 33-year Army career, Jim was in combat on four different occasions. This includes two tours in Vietnam: first, as an advisor in the Mekong Delta; and, later, as an infantry battalion S-3 with the 101st Airborne Division, operating in the Ruong Ruong Valley, just south of the Demilitarized Zone.</p>
<p>Jim served as a troop leader in the 82nd Airborne Division at every level, from rifle platoon leader to airborne division commander. He commanded the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment for two years. He commanded the 3rd Brigade, 505th Infantry Regiment for three years, longer than anyone in the history of the regiment. He commanded the 82nd Airborne Division longer than anyone, except for the legendary General Jim Gavin of World War II fame.</p>
<p>As assistant division commander (operations) of the 82nd Airborne Division, Jim commanded all Army Forces during Operation Golden Pheasant, a show of force in Honduras. As commanding general, he became the only modern-day Army commander to lead a division in combat in two separate conflicts. He was the first jumper from the division during the night airborne assault of Panama, known as Operation Just Cause and, later, he led the division during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf.</p>
<p>Jim culminated his active-duty career as commanding general of the First U.S. Army at Fort Meade, MD, responsible for 325,000 soldiers.</p>
<p>After retirement from active duty in 1993, Jim’s service to the nation continued in the Balkans, as director of a Joint Civil-Military Training Program for the Croatian Armed Forces. Later, he served as the secretary of defense’s personal representative to the former Soviet Republics of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in Central Asia. For over 20 years, he served as the honorary colonel of the regiment to the 505th Infantry Regiment. With over 15 years of his active-duty career spent at Fort Bragg, Jim was especially honored to be inducted into the 82nd Airborne Division’s Hall of Fame, as a member of the Class of 2019.</p>
<p>During their retirement years, Jim and Edna chose to live full time in sunny South Florida. This allowed Jim to pursue the game of golf and, more importantly, to spend more time with Edna and their family of four children: Mary, James III, Michelle and Jeffrey; 10 grandchildren: Mark, Emily, Melanie, Karen, Kathryn, John, James IV, Michael, Jennifer and Sara; and two great-grandchilden.</p>
<p>Jim was very proud of his Army career, but he was equally proud of the formative years spent at West Point. The U.S. Military Academy’s bedrock values turned out to be the foundation for Jim’s success as a troop leader and as a commander. West Point was also where Jim and Edna met for the first time, in Grant Hall. It was love at first sight. Edna’s wisdom and passion for taking care of others made Jim a better soldier and a better husband, father, and grandfather. Job well done, Paratrooper; Be Thou at Peace.</p>
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