[pamino]

El Paso Times, June 28th

REMEMBERING THE 507TH
Scholarship started in soldier's honor

Louie Gilot
El Paso Times

When Pfc. Howard Johnson II left his Alabama home for Fort Bliss in January 2002, his father, the Rev. Howard Johnson, told him he'd have to find a good church family in his new home. That's how the young Johnson, 20 at the time, joined Unity Missionary Baptist Church in Northeast El Paso.

Johnson died in an ambush in Iraq on March 23, 2003, along with eight fellow members of the 507th Maintenance Company.

Sunday, the elder Johnson came to El Paso to preach at his son's adopted church at 4601 Maxwell Street and to announce the church's creation of a scholarship in his son's name. A banquet at Fort Bliss Centennial Club on Sunday afternoon reunited some current and former members of the 507th, including former prisoners of war Jessica Lynch, who declined to talk to the media, and Joseph Hudson.

Andrea Jackson of Unity Missionary Baptist Church said the church is counting on an international network of churches, business and other groups to raise $20,000 to send a boy or a girl to college in memory of Johnson.

Applications for the scholarship, which will be available beginning July 15, must be submitted by Sept. 15.

Some who served in the 507th with Johnson said the scholarship is an enduring chance to appreciate an upbeat man who forged many friendships through his humor and selflessness.

"Whenever you might be feeling down about something, he was always right there to lift you back up," Marcus Dubois, 21, said.

The Rev. Johnson, who wore his son's Purple Heart and Bronze Star over his blue suit, said he was touched that the El Paso community had not forgotten his son.

"It is amazing the people he has touched around the world. In Mobile (Ala.), they named a park after him and children are named after him," he said.

Johnson preached the story of Job and the trials of faith Sunday morning.

In the heat of the sermon, Johnson blurted out, "My wife and I are riding on cloud nine right now to know we have some friends in El Paso."

Elle Polk, wearing an elaborate baby blue hat, listened from the pews.

"We really love the Rev. Johnson and his family," she said after the sermon.

Small Photo: Ex-POW Jessica Lynch sat between Jessica Ayala, the girlfriend of the late Pfc. Howard Johnson II, and Army Sgt. Ruben Contreras, Lynch's fiance, Sunday at the Fort Bliss Centennial Club.

[lanieer416]

This is a small picture but you can see Jessica with Ruben and Howard Johnson's girlfriend.
Thanks for the great article Pamino.

[mainzman]

I would imagine returning to Ft. Bliss might have been a bitter/sweet experience for Jessica.