Gary Morgan Johnson, 45th Medical Company, US Army

Remembering my best pal when we served during the Vietnam War, my college room-mate and fraternity brother at Texas Tech. On February 5, 1969, Gary and crew was flying a night hoist rescue mission in the Long Khanh Province when he and his helicopter were driven away from the rescue site by arms fire, twice returned and on the third hoist attempt were hit by an rpg, whereupon the helicopter exploded and all were kia. Those memories of the radio call "Red Baron down" haunt me to this day. Gary and his crew were awarded the Silver Star posthumously.....for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. He is buried in Restland Memorial Park in Dallas, and I visit his resting site every Memorial Day, for over some 50+ years now.