One more honor for a war hero

Vietnam medic who saved hundreds will be recognized today

Fresh out of Houston's Kashmere High School in 1964, Jimmy Johnson figured the Army planned to take advantage of his musical abilities when his instructor at Fort Sam Houston ordered him to board the M bus.

“They said, ‘Johnson, go on the M bus,' and I thought, ‘Oh yeah, M bus for music,' ” Johnson said. But when the bus started rolling toward the military's medical facilities in San Antonio, Johnson protested. He was told the Army had enough musicians and needed medics.

“I fought (it) the whole way and would try to get into music, but they wouldn't let me go,” he said.

The disappointing assignment, it turned out, set Johnson on a path to become one of the Army's most highly decorated enlisted officers. As he steadily rose in the ranks, he earned some of the highest commendations, medals of valor and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6876375.html