In partnership with the Veterans Coordination Commission, I am pleased to present the January, 2004 Veteran of the Month, Bill Johnson. His commitment to his Nation and community are certainly worthy of this special honor.

Master Sergeant William Johnson was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force after graduating from high school in 1981 and did his basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas and Sheppard AFB, Texas, to complete his aircraft maintenance technical training. Bill’s first official duty station was Langley AFB, Virginia as a flight mechanic to the 6th Air Force Command & Control Squadron in direct support of the Atlantic Command EC-135 program.

Bill was assigned to Mountain Home AFB in Idaho after ten years in Virginia. During his 7 years there, he supported the 366th Wing 22nd Air Refueling Squadron as the “first” dedicated KC-135R Crew Chief. His next permanent assignment in 1999 brought him here to Ellsworth AFB as part of the 28th Maintenance Squadron. Bill recently retired as the Maintenance Flight Superintendent.

Bill’s career did not always keep him in the “States” having been deployed four times. The first deployment in 1994 was to Cairo, Egypt in support of “Operation Bright Star.” Support of “Operation Provide Comfort,” took him to Incirlik, Turkey, and to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia in support of “Operation Southern Watch,” His fourth deployment was in 1997 to Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal in support of “Operation Northern Viking.”

While in service to his country, Bill has earned numerous awards and commendations, including a Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, an Air Force Commendation Medal, and an Air Force Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster.

Bill has been married to Kim for nearly twenty years and they have two children, 14-year old Ben and 11-year old Becky. Bill and his family are very involved in our community. After his own 11 years as a Boy Scout, earning the rank of “Eagle Scout,” he has continued the Scouting tradition by serving as a Webelos Den Leader, Assistant Scoutmaster, and is currently the Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 320. Bill is also an active member of American Legion Post 320. Bill and his family are members of the Lord of Life Lutheran Church, where he serves on the Church Council. Since his recent retirement, Bill has spent his free time pursuing his Bachelors Degree in Education which he hopes to use as a secondary education teacher.