As the elected Senior Vice, it was my duty to step up and take Command, and I did just that.
A little about myself. I am a Vietnam Era Veteran serving in the US Navy from 1964 – 1970. I served two years as a Navy Reservist on active duty on the East Coast. After completing my contract, I entered Syracuse University under the GI Bill and earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. In 1980 I rejoined the service, the US Army National Guard as a First Lt. serving as an Engineering Officer with the Corps of Engineers. Having served 20+ years total service I retired in September 1997 as a Major.
After 9/11, I received a call from the US Army Corps of Engineers on my availability. In 2005 I was again called and asked to rejoin the US Army in an Active Duty Assignment in Washington DC. I said that I would and reported to USACE HQ’s at the Pentagon where I worked for the next 27 months. It was there I was asked to go to Afghanistan in a Construction Managers Position. I landed in Kuwait on March 1, 2008 spending time acclimating myself to the heat then boarded a C17 for the final leg of my trip to Kabul, Afghanistan. I ended up with 12 Horizontal and Vertical construction projects to support our troops all around Kabul. After serving one year I rotated back to Ft. Benning for medical evaluations and final release in late March 2009. I can say that I have three DD214’s from the US Army stating RETIRED. I was awarded a Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, (3) ARCOMS and (2) Army Achievement Medals and (3) National Defense Awards during my 34 years of Service.
My wife and I would like to greet you at the next regular scheduled meeting, November 7th 2018 at 1930 hours.
Thank you and we hope to see you then. For 40 plus years The Simon-Parise VFW Post 9596 has been part of this Community. It would be a shame to have to close our doors because of non-participation.
Charles R. Johnson
Commander VFW Post 9596
