Posted on 11/19/2004 12:35:45 AM PST by Former Military Chick
HARTFORD, Nov. 17 - The parents of a Marine rifleman critically wounded in Falluja, Iraq, are invoking the military's "surviving sons" policy to ask for the transfer of the soldier's younger brother to noncombat duty.
Cpl. Brian Johnston, 23, of the First Battalion, Third Marines, lost his right arm and his right leg above the knee to a rocket-propelled grenade during fighting last week. He is in intensive care at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., his mother, Vera Heron, said in a telephone interview from the hospital on Wednesday.
Corporal Johnston's younger brother, Cpl. Kevin Johnston, 20, of the Third Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, is serving his second tour in Iraq and has also fought in Falluja, his father, Bruce Johnston, said from the hospital.
Bruce Johnston said he reached Kevin early Saturday morning by satellite phone to tell him Brian had been wounded.
"The first words out of his mouth were, 'I will make them pay,' " Bruce Johnston said. "I basically told him I wanted him home. I couldn't get an answer from him because we were breaking up with static."
It was unclear on Wednesday whether the Marine Corps would grant the request or whether Kevin Johnston would agree to it. Military policy allows immediate family members of those who die as a result of military service to request a transfer to a noncombat job.
Press officers at the Department of Defense and with the Marine Corps in Virginia deferred questions on the Johnstons' situation to the First Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq. The Marine Corps in Iraq did not respond immediately to a request for information.
The Johnston brothers' situation was first reported in The Hartford Courant.
In April, two sisters serving in the Army National Guard decided not to return to duty in Iraq after a third sister was killed in Baghdad. Their commanders urged them not to return, citing potential safety concerns for their units caused by the publicity surrounding the case. A Guard spokesman declined to elaborate on the dangers the publicity would create.
Bruce Johnston and Ms. Heron, his former wife, have asked United States Representative John B. Larson of East Hartford, Conn., where their sons grew up, to intervene on their behalf.
"We don't have any solid answers now, unfortunately," said Michael Kirk, a spokesman for the congressman. Mr. Larson visited Brian Johnston and his parents on Wednesday, Mr. Kirk said.
Brian Johnston remains in intensive care and is breathing through a respirator, though his condition is improving, his parents said.
"I would just like to them to move Kevin into a noncombat area because they're my only two children," Ms. Heron said. At the least, the soldiers' parents want their youngest son to come home temporarily.
"We want him basically to be able to come home on emergency leave, so he can spend some time with his brother first," Ms. Heron said. "And then we'll worry about where he is after that."
Bruce Johnston said he plans to tell his son, "We want you both. We're not going through this again."
There is indeed a good reason for this, so in the end I think doing this was the right thing.
He can always clear landmines. Police the streets of Baghdad. Check for car bombs at a checkpoint. Taste the mystery meats from the mess hall.
Reassign both to non combat positions. The fella who is wounded shoulld stay on active duty until all of the necessary operations are completed. Fitted out with new cutting edge arm and leg. Receive med and disabled vet status and pension. Yes pension!!
I agree with all that. We need to take care of all our wounded that are coming home. God Bless the men and women who are willing to put themselves on the line for us.
If I were Cpl. Kevin Johnston, I would be extremely angry and ashamed of my parents for doing this. Disgusting.
I'd grin, let them know how much I love them and how much their love means to me, and tell them I'll be making my own decision.
When my mother was killed, one of the lessons I brought away from the episode was to never judge people at their worst moments - these two parents obviously raised a couple of fine sons.
I'm confident the right thing will be done in the end.
Your mom must be beaming down on you with pride. She raised a fine child who turned into a fine adult.
This a good policy.It serves in the best interest for both the military and the family. (FMC) I know your father is in heaven with mine also watching over us. God Bless. NSNR
Excellent post. Yet, is it not true that using this is for men being able to continue the name. In other words, if you are the last male in your family then you can opt out of the military so that you can still continue your family name for the future?
I thank your father for his service as well. I agree he is looking down, and right now I am sure he is pleased. He would be happier if the Cowboys were winning though!
Again thank you for your post.
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