Matthew Weinburke

Post: JWV Post 692 (Rockville, MD)

Military Service: U.S. Public Health Service, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Army

Member Since: 2017

1. Where and when did you serve in the military?
I served in the U.S. Navy between 1986 and 1997 at National Hospital in San Diego, California, NAS Moffett Field, NAS Alameda, CA and on the USS Carl Vinson. I served in the U.S. Army in the National Guard, Reserves, and on active duty between 1997 and 2009, and worked for the U.S. Public Health Service from 1999 to 2020.

2. Why did you join the military?
I joined the uniformed services initially because I wanted to serve my country. I also needed structure and a sense of purpose in my life. Back in 1986, I was living and working in London, England. After some thought, I decided I wanted to return to the U.S. and serve in the military, so I enlisted the U.S. Navy while I was in London at the U.S. Embassy.
Before living in England, I was in Israel. I lived on a Moshav in Israel called Moshav Tsofar and learned Hebrew while working and studying Hebrew on the Kibbutz, Mishmar HaNegev. Before going to Israel, I had completed two years of university and then dropped out of college to travel and go to Israel. I traveled outside of the U.S. for two years before moving to London. That’s where both my parents were born, and we lived there when I was a kid.

3. How did your Jewish faith impact your time in the service?
My Jewish faith definitely impacted my time in the service. While I was in the U.S. Navy, I served as a Jewish Lay Leader aboard the USS Carl Vinson from July of 1993 to January of 1997. During my time in the U.S. Army (Active/Reserves/Guard), I attended religious services and served as an informal Jewish Lay Leader. During my time in the U.S. Public Health Service from March 2009 to May 2020 I served as an informal Jewish Lay Leader. I led a Passover service during my deployment to Liberia in April of 2015.

4. Have you ever experienced anti-Semitism at home or abroad?
Yes. Most of the anti-Semitism I experienced involved remarks or comments, and what we would call micro aggression. Since I was outspoken about my Jewish identity and religious identity I was exposed more to anti-Semitic comments. However, I also received praise and people would come up to me and ask me about being Jewish. I also experienced a U.S. military and uniformed service that was and is Christian-centric. As a Jew and a member of a minority religion, I feel we struggle to make sure the Christian-centric U.S. Military and uniformed service doesn’t over influence our lives and practices. Whenever, Christmas would come around it was always a struggle to make sure those that celebrated the holiday didn’t dominate the conversation and the focus. When I was in Liberia, I conducted Jewish services. The Christians who led the services would tell me what they knew about Judaism even though they didn’t ask me why I am waiting for the messiah when he has already come. This type of conversation was not just typical in the Public Health Service but with practicing Christians in the Army and Navy. I don’t think these types of experiences are anti-Semitic, but they are biased and culturally insensitive.

5. Why did you join JWV?
I didn’t know about JWV before 2017. I found out about it from Anna Selman while stationed at the USPHS Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland. I was attending a Jewish Learning class at the local Jewish Community Center. After that, I went to a picnic for the local JWV post. When Selman then asked me to speak to children from a local Jewish school at the National Museum of Jewish American Military History, I was hooked.

6. How would you improve a current JWV program, or what type of program do you think JWV needs to add?
My goal is to be actively involved. I am currently the Chairman of the JWV Post-9/11 committee and an active member of the Rockville, Maryland post. I want to encourage, engage, and bring in more Jews into JWV; including Jews from all the uniformed services including the National Oceanographic Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) and United States Public Health Service (USPHS).

7. What is your favorite Jewish food?
Falafel. I love falafel. However, I grew up eating fresh bagels, fresh cream cheese, lox, and Kosher pickles. That is Jewish soul food!!!

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JWV Disaster Relief Makes A Difference

By Greg Lee

The evening of September 8, 2020 started out fairly routine here in the mountains of Northern California. We even checked the status of the wildfires in our area by visiting the local Fire Chief at the Station.

The fire was miles away and three crews were on it, so we figured there wasn’t much chance of it reaching my location anytime soon. So, we went home, made dinner, and turned in early when the sun set at 8:30 p.m.

At 10:30 p.m. what sounded like a jet aircraft making low flybys disrupted my light sleep. I went outside to check things out. There were no aircraft, but the winds were whipping up. Soon I heard the sound of loud explosions.

I’m not a stranger to the sounds of exploding propane tanks, vehicle gas tanks, and power transformers. I quickly jumped on my motorcycle and did a local recon. Everything seemed fine.

The only fire I could see was miles away and not an immediate threat.

But I didn’t know that officials were igniting back fires in our community. I’m not sure why they would light fires in high winds, and naturally, they soon got out of control. And then a soldier’s nightmare became reality. We were flanked by a wall of flames which was in effect, friendly fire, and the fire was racing through the crowns of the trees moving very fast.

I quickly gathered my dogs, computer, and firearms. I loaded my truck and practically drove through flames to a neighbor’s place to offer some assistance. I spent a few minutes there helping load up. As we drove down the mountain with the flames in hot pursuit, we were lucky not to have the road blocked by falling trees or power lines.

When disaster hits quickly, government agencies are ill equipped or prepared for an immediate response. In the first few hours neighbors were helping neighbors in our makeshift encampment in a large parking lot in town.

Churches, rescue missions, and the Salvation Army were the first to respond with water, food, gasoline cards, and clothing.

Eventually, government agencies set up a resource center for the victims to use. Most of the agencies were there, but getting that assistance can be a long and time consuming process.

In many cases it can take weeks because housing and hotel rooms are hard to find. The current coronavirus pandemic also made for an extra challenge in this situation.

There exists a huge void in the assistance process. How does a victim get needed help in the space between the major aid providers and the immediate need?

I learned that one of the greatest resources available is from Veteran Service Organizations. When the Jewish War Veterans became aware of my dilemma, they were the first to respond and provide aid.

JWV has a dedicated Disaster Relief Program. They immediately approved my request for assistance and provided me with much needed funding for immediate needs. I am so grateful for the generosity and commitment my VSO has demonstrated.

My local Post 603 was also instrumental in providing aid. The members of the Post created a special fund, and I cannot begin to express how much it helped.

Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the Jewish War Veterans at all levels, my tragedy has been significantly mitigated. I am forever appreciative to my comrades in arms for their unwavering support and actions to facilitate my challenges during these trying conditions.

When spring comes in a few months, thanks to JWV, I am prepared to go back to the mountain and rebuild.

It is truly an honor and a privilege to be associated with the greatest Veterans Service Organization in the nation, the Jewish War Veterans.

Volume 74. Number 4. 2020

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Veterans Day – Post 757

Veterans Day, November 11, began as a perfect fall morning. A light breeze unfurled the stars and stripes just above the Texas and Israeli flags on the three flagpoles at the Jewish Community Center in Austin, Texas.

The Color Guard, Commander, Chaplain, and guests of Post 757 gathered in person for the first time, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Color Guard was anchored by announcer Mike London, Bugler Gregg Philipson, Flag Holders/Raisers Alana Pompa and Bob Kaplan, and Rifleman Chuck Mandlebaum. Rabbi Dan Millner delivered the blessing, and Commander Charlie Rosenblum offered the closing remarks.

It was heart-warming to see a class of very young children of the Austin Jewish Academy, all sitting quietly, taking it all in behind their masks.
Commander Rosenblum thanked all those attending, including the JCC team who helped to make the event happen.

Volume 74. Number 4. 2020

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Remarks in Honor of a Veterans Shabbat

Captain Aaron Brumbaugh is a member of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, Michigan and of Charles Shapiro-MG Maurice Rose Post 510. He is a decorated U.S. Army Infantry Officer with two combat tours in Afghanistan. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 2010 as a member of Phi Beta Kappa and recipient of the George C. Marshall Leadership Award. He expects to complete his professional degree work at Wayne State University in December. He presented the following remarks at Congregation Shaarey Zedek’s annual Veterans Shabbat on November 7, which this year commemorated the 75th Anniversary of the end of World War II.

I am a former Captain in the United States Army. I deployed as an Infantry Platoon Leader on two deployments during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan with the “Blue Spaders,” the 1st Battalion of the 26th Infantry Regiment.

So, what is the significance of that affiliation?
In World War I, the “Blue Spaders” fought across France, winning more campaign streamers than any other unit in that war.
In World War II we were part of Operation Torch, assaulting and ultimately taking North Africa before crossing the Mediterranean and participating in the taking of Sicily during Operation Husky.

When it was time for the Allies to storm the Beaches of Normandy, the “Blue Spaders” were there as well, in the very first wave of the assault. They fought on from there, laying siege to the German city of Aachen, taking part in the Battle of the Bulge, and fighting into Czechoslovakia before the end of the war, earning the unit motto “Relentless Pursuit.”

We were there in Vietnam, and in the Balkan Wars deploying to Bosnia, Macedonia, and Kosovo. We were in Iraq in Samarra in the Sunni Triangle, and then in Baghdad, and then deployed multiple times to Afghanistan including the now infamous Korengal Valley, some of the hottest fighting of the Afghan war.

And on another note, according to Marvel Comics, Captain America himself was originally a “Blue Spader.” If you don’t believe me, feel free to Google it.

So why am I telling you all this? And why use the term “we” when, as some of you may already suspect, I was not personally at any of these battles of World War II?

Well, in the U.S. military and particularly in the U.S. Army, we understand the importance of our history. The institutions of today’s military were created and shaped by the heroes of the World Wars and the conflicts since then. We feel the echoes of their contribution through everything we do, every tradition, and every lesson learned through hard warfare. We train in tactics and procedures that were formed in the time of the World War. At times, we are even quartered for training in facilities that don’t appear to have been updated since World War II. But all this connects us to our units’ lineages and lets us feel the weight of trying to fill the footsteps of giants who came before us. All Jews are commanded to regard themselves as if they were personally brought forth out of the land of Egypt. Similarly, Soldiers feel a direct connection to their individual unit history. I am privileged to be part of the continuing story of the “Blue Spaders,” and all of today’s veterans in numerous battalions throughout the U.S. Army get to be part of similar stories. In all of these stories, the Second World War holds a place of special distinction. It forms the cornerstone of military education and training to this day. As young soldiers, when we learn about our unit histories, there is a very real sense of what incredibly big shoes we have to fill. So, I am here to express my gratitude as a soldier, for fighting a campaign the magnitude of which is almost unimaginable to me, even as it paved the way for the modern institution of the military which made me what I am today.

But as Jews, the significance of this war is even greater. The heroes of World War II are responsible for overturning a true existential threat to the Jewish people and stopping the greatest act of mass murder in modern history. American soldiers liberated five of the concentration camps and the American war effort was necessary for the liberation of the rest. The debt of gratitude of the Jewish people cannot ever be fully expressed or repaid. So again, I am here to try to convey my gratitude, this time as a Jew, for the gift of life given back to so many of our people.

And in addition to all this, there is another special significance of the Greatest Generation that I feel as an American. In the times we live in, it is almost unimaginable to think of society coming together and taking on such a herculean task as they took on. This generation emerged directly from the Great Depression and marched into one of the greatest wars ever fought. There was no excuse of hard times, just the country coming together and doing what needed to be done. Some of that sense of unity can be seen in the humble title “GI,” shorthand for “General Issue” or “Government Issue.” The Soldiers of World War II embraced the term GI, carrying connotations of being a small part of something much bigger. So again, I am here to express my gratitude, now as an everyday American, for showing us the way to put aside individual egos and do what you were called to do as part of something much greater, and for laying the template for the ideal of what it means to be an American.

Volume 74. Number 4. 2020

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Post 41 Commander Visits the National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC) at Syracuse University

By Gary Ginsburg

Syracuse University has supported America’s veterans for more than 100 years. It started with military training conducted on campus for 1,000 men in 1918 during World War I. During the 1940s, Syracuse University President and Chancellor William Tolley provided critical input to create the original GI Bill legislation, which provided enormous educational opportunities for returning veterans following World War II. More recently, during his inaugural address to the university community in 2014, the current university president and chancellor Kent Syverud stated, “I believe Syracuse University must once again become the best place for Veterans. We have the capacity; we have the opportunity to be the best in the world at providing opportunity and empowerment to the veterans of our armed forces and their families.”

Ginsburg and Novak with a plaque dedicated to Jewish Medal of Honor Winner and Syracuse University graduate William Shemin.

In 2020, the “Military Times” ranked Syracuse University number one among privately endowed universities in the country for its support of veterans and fifth among all institutions of higher education including public or state sponsored colleges. One of the reasons Syracuse University is known as a veteran-friendly or veteran-centric school is the National Veterans Resource Center which opened several months ago. The ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for April 2020 will now take place in May of 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Syracuse University has about 1,100 military-connected students out of a total student population of 21,000. These students fall into five groups, including active-duty military personnel, U.S. Army OTC and Air Force ROTC, reserve component personnel service in the U.S. armed forces, veterans from all branches of the military, and immediate family members of the other groups.

Dan Bateman, an operations officer at the University’s Office of Veterans and Military Affairs said, “the military-connected students and veterans are granted priority for early class or course registration ahead of most students and following only the scholarship athletes on campus.”
On November 30, I took a special tour of the brand-new building known as the National Veterans Resource Center on the Syracuse University campus. The building is not yet open to the public due to COVID-19. While the university donated the land, the cost of the $60 million, 115,000 square-foot building came from private sector donations. There is a parade field for Army and Air Force ROTC cadet drill and ceremony (military marching) preparation as well as other possible outdoor activities. There are also classrooms, a large auditorium, and a multimedia center within the NVRC. The main tenants of the building are the Institute of Veterans and Military Families, Syracuse University Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, U.S. Army ROTC, U.S. Air Force ROTC, the university and regional student Veterans Resource Center, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran Success on Campus program, Center of Excellence for Veteran Entrepreneurship, and a Veterans Business Outreach Center and Accelerator.

There are many programs using the NVRC as a hub and laser-focused in support of the 1,100 military connected students including, a business bootcamp for veterans with disabilities, female veterans and entrepreneurship, veteran career transition, skills training, and economic development engagement targeting advanced manufacturing skills with companies such as General Electric, Alcoa, Lockheed Martin and community colleges.

Ronald Novak, the executive director of the Syracuse University Office of Veteran and Military Affairs and a retired colonel U.S. Army said, “the new building and the programs here will help ensure this school continues to be the best place for veterans and family members today and for the next 100 years into the future.”

Volume 74. Number 4. 2020

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It Shouldn’t Be This Hard to Serve Your Country by David Shulkin

By Peter Nickitas, JWV National Judge Advocate

“It Shouldn’t Be This Hard to Serve Your Country” describes the public service of the first Jewish-American Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Dr. David Shulkin. Shulkin served as Undersecretary of the VA from 2015 to 2017 and Secretary from 2017 to 2018. Shulkin served as the first chief medical officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System and CEO of New York’s Beth Israel Medical Center before entering public service.

This book makes outstanding reading, as Secretary Shulkin describes his encounters with entrenched officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in his work to bring more accountability, veteran-focused care, accessible service, and timely appointments. His accomplishments included updating electronic health records (EHR) systems and expanding Agent Orange treatment to Blue Water Navy veterans who served on ships off the shore of Vietnam and suffered diseases induced by the Agent Orange clouds that blew offshore. In his words, he found himself with the choice between continued neglect of veterans based on dwindling scientific evidence as veterans died, or the moral choice, and treat Blue Water Navy veterans. He took the moral choice.

He spent a great deal of energy bringing the 2014 Veteran Access, Choice, and Accountability Act up to date in 2017 and 2018, culminating in the Mission Act. At all times, he fought to ensure quality and coordinate the delegation of some care to private providers without eviscerating the core Veterans Affairs budget for VA medical center care. During his time at Secretary, he even saw patients himself at surprise appointments at VA Medical Centers.

Shulkin says his vision for the future of the VA is “a new model of governance, complete with its own board composed of health care experts, veterans, and business leaders. It should remain a government entity but with a structure that allows it to develop strategies free of political influence…. This new governance structure would mean the end of political appointees. People who serve our veterans should be chosen not on the basis of political ideology or their commitment to a particular elected individual but rather because of relevant experience, competence, and commitment to the mission.”

“It Shouldn’t Be This Hard to Serve Your Country” provides an example of a Jewish-American who as the founders of JWV would say, “redeems the good name of the Jew.” Shulkin took the opportunity for service and made the most of it, to show that we Jewish-Americans are capable of fulfilling acts of Torah-Mitzvot and our civic obligations to our nation, our neighbors, and our fellow veterans and servicemembers, with equal fervor and merit.

Volume 74. Number 4. 2020

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Colonel Aaron Bank – The Founder of the Green Berets

By Marc Liebman

As a young man, Aaron Bank, who was born in 1902, traveled extensively through Europe and became fluent in German and French. At the outbreak of World War II, he was 37 and volunteered to serve. Initially, the military rejected him due to his age, but Bank persevered. He went through Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Because of his language proficiency, Bank was assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

After training in the U.S. and U.K. on how to conduct clandestine operations, he parachuted into the Vosges region of France on July 31, 1944 as the leader of the three-man Jedburgh team, code named Packard. Each team consisted of an officer, a demolitions expert, and a radio-operator. Bank, as well as his other team members, knew if they were captured, the Gestapo would torture and kill them. His team, aided by French partisans, harassed the Germans until he was pulled out in late 1944.

Bank’s next assignment came directly from the head of the OSS, General William Donovan, who told one of his subordinates, “Tell Bank to get Hitler.” For this mission, Bank recruited a team of anti-Nazis and former German soldiers who would parachute into Germany and kill Adolph Hitler if/when he fled to his redoubt in Berchtesgaden. The OSS scrubbed the mission just after the team boarded an airplane to fly into Bavaria in late April 1945.

With the war over in Germany, Bank went to French Indochina to lead teams rescuing French and other Europeans held prisoner by the Japanese. While there, Bank worked with Ho Chi Minh, who was fighting the Vietnamese. Impressed with Minh and his popularity, he suggested to the OSS and the State Department that Minh was extremely popular and would win a free election.

Bank recommended Minh be allowed to form a government after the war. He encouraged the Vietnamese leader to contact the State Department for support for a Vietnam free from the French as part of Roosevelt’s vision of a post-war world in which the British and French colonies would be given their independence. Minh tried several times in the late 1940s and early fifties, but each time his appeal was either ignored or rejected because the Truman and later Eisenhower administrations viewed Ho Chi Minh as a dedicated Communist. By then, the Cold War was underway.

After the war, Bank remained in the Army and served in intelligence billets in Europe before being sent to Korea as the executive officer of the 187th Regimental Combat Team.

Back in the U.S., Bank became the Chief of the Special Operations Branch of the Army’s Office of Psychological Warfare. His task was to “staff and gain approval for an OSS Jedburgh style team.” In 1952, the Army approved and funded a 2,500-man unit. Its mission was “to infiltrate by land, sea or air deep into enemy occupied territory and organize the resistance guerrilla potential to conduct Special Forces operations with the emphasis on guerrilla training.”

Bank and seven others started the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) on June 19, 1952 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Within two years, the 10th was manned and operational. After the Berlin Uprising in 1953, the 10th was split into two units, the 10th and the 77th, and both were expanded in size. The structure, training, tactics, and employment of Green Beret A teams that Bank outlined in 1952 are still used today. Colonel Bank retired in 1958.

After Bank left the Army, President Kennedy authorized the wearing of the “beret, man’s, wool, rifle green, Army shade 297.” Since then, the Army Special Forces have been known as the Green Berets.

This quiet warrior didn’t stop serving his country after he left the army. Horrified at the lack of security at the San Onofre nuclear plant in Southern California near where he lived, Bank lobbied for change. Twice he had to publicly expose the vulnerability of the plant to sabotage. Finally, in 1974, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission acted on his recommendations for all nuclear power plants in the U.S.

Aaron Bank wrote two books. One, “From OSS to Green Berets: The Birth of Special Forces,” describes his life and career. The other, co-written by Erwin Nathanson, is a novel titled “Operation Iron Cross,” which is a fictionalized account of the mission to kill Hitler. The book became the basis for the movie “The Dirty Dozen.”

Bank died in 2004 at the age of 101.

Volume 74. Number 4 . 2020

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Department of Minnesota Celebrates 75th Anniversary

By Lou Michaels

The Department of Minnesota celebrated its 75th anniversary with a dinner at Mancini’s Steakhouse in St. Paul, Minnesota on Wednesday, October 28. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, strict CDC guidelines were followed, including a restriction on the number of guests who attended in person. There were 85 people who attended the dinner in the main room, 25 in an outside room, and many more via Zoom.

JWV National Judge Advocate Peter Nickitas served as the Master of Ceremonies for the event which Department of Minnesota Commander Lou Michaels organized. The Department Chaplain Irving Rosenbloom offered opening and closing prayers.

A number of distinguished guests were present in person, including National Commander Jeff Sacks, National Chief of Staff Robert Nussbaum, Department of Wisconsin Commander Kim Queen, Minnesota National Guard Adjutant General Shaun Menke, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke, DAV National Commander Stephen Whitehead, AMVETS State of Minnesota Commander John Flores, American Legion State of Minnesota Commander Mark Dovrak, Minnesota State Senator Sandy Pappas, and Prime Minister of the Winter Carnival Royal House of Spire Joe Johnston.
During the event, the Department received proclamations in honor of its 75th anniversary from St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Governor Tim Walz.
Royalty from the St. Paul Winter Carnival, established in 1886, bestowed honors on some of the distinguished guests by “knighting” Sacks and Nussbaum. Sacks is the third consecutive National Commander to attend the annual dinner and receive this honor.

The day also happened to be Sacks’ birthday and we celebrated by presenting him with a large cake at the close of dinner.

Volume 74. Number 4. 2020

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Female WWII Veteran’s Military Cap Project

By Barbara Leap

During the final throes of World War II, when May Brill was 20, she decided to follow her two brothers into the military.
Her reasoning: “What about me? It’s my country, too.”

While her brothers were in the Army and Coast Guard, Brill thought the Navy might be a good fit for her. But there was a problem. The year was 1944 and the Navy wouldn’t accept women for another four years. It did have a women’s auxiliary called the WAVES, and that’s what Brill joined.
Now 96, Brill is engaged in a new battle. She wants to make sure the world knows that women in all branches of the military have served, fought, and died for their country.

“Women veterans are invisible,” Brill says. Now she’s spearheading a project encouraging female veterans to order a cap designed with their military branch, and to wear it daily like their male counterparts.

The longtime resident of Cherry Hill, New Jersey launched her project with a single cap, her own, designed with the U.S. Navy insignia. She has arranged for the Keystone Uniform Cap Corporation in Philadelphia to produce them for other veterans for $45.

Three of Brill’s friends, Air Force veterans Selina Kanowitz, Julia Coker, and Army veteran Constance Cotton, are helping her to promote this effort.

Despite approaching the century mark, Brill, energetically continues her involvement in volunteer activities, including serving as honorary commander of JWV Post 126 of Southern New Jersey. Last year she established the Norman and May Brill Memorial Legacy to permanently provide public forums at the JCC each Friday in May in honor of all veterans.

Brill is so busy, she jokes that her four daughters, 11 granddaughters, and four great-granddaughters, “have to make an appointment to see me.”

Volume 74. Number 4. 2020

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Congressman, Colonel Sam Johnson, USAF (Ret).

By Herb Rosenbleeth
National Executive Director

One of my all-time heroes, Rep. Sam Johnson, passed away a few months ago (not related to the COVID-19 pandemic). I will always remember Colonel Johnson as a heroic Air Force pilot during Korea, a courageous prisoner of war during Vietnam, and for his statement, “I proudly stand with Israel.” For sure, one of my heroes!

Johnson served 14 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, from 1991-2019. When he retired last year, Rep. Johnson was the oldest member of Congress and had served nearly 28 years. As a member of Congress, Johnson always showed strong support for the military.

Johnson was born in San Antonio, a proud Texan from the beginning. He graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he had joined in the Air Force ROTC. After graduating in 1951, he soon became involved in the fighting in Korea. During the Korean War, Johnson was a superb fighter pilot who flew 62 combat missions. Later, he joined the elite Air Force Thunderbirds aerobatic team. Only the very best pilots become one of the Thunderbirds.

In Vietnam, on April 16, 1966, Johnson was on his 25th mission over North Vietnam when his F-4 Phantom fighter-bomber was shot down. Badly injured, he was taken to the Hanoi Hoa Lo, called the Hanoi Hilton by U.S. prisoners. For more than seven years, he remained in prison under sub-human conditions, including 42 months in solitary confinement. It took two years before his wife and family found out he was still alive. During that time and to this day, I participate in events and activities of the National League of Families on behalf of JWV. When participating, I often think of PNC Mike Berman, who is JWV’s representative at the Vietnam Wall and one of our strongest advocates for the prisoners and the missing.

I first learned of Johnson and Navy pilots Everett Alvarez, George Day, Jeremiah Denton, and others through my involvement for JWV with the National League of Families and its phenomenal Executive Director Ann Mills Griffiths. Those men were all heroes before, during, and after their captivity.
During the last 18 months of his captivity, Johnson shared a cell with John McCain, a Navy pilot shot down in 1967. When Johnson and the other POWs were released on February 12, 1973, he weighed only 120 pounds. His right hand was permanently disabled, and he walked with a limp for the rest of his life. During his outstanding military career, Colonel Johnson’s military decorations included two Silver Stars, two awards of the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal, and two Purple Hearts.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1979, Johnson settled in Plano, Texas, where he was elected to the state legislature in 1984. In 1991, he won his seat in the U.S. Congress. He served as a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. He helped pass the Military Tax Relief Act of 2003, which reduced taxes and increased death benefits for the families of our military personnel. He gained political and moral authority from his experiences as a combat veteran of two wars and as a long-time prisoner subjected to extremely brutal treatment.
I dedicate this column to Congressman, Colonel Sam Johnson, USAF(Ret).

Volume 74. Number 4. 2020

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