CAPTAIN ALAN D. JOHNSTON

UNITED STATES ARMY

 

Field Artillery - Enlisted - 1978-1981

Field Artillery – Officer - 1981-1982

Combat Engineer - Officer 1982-1989

Commissioning Source – ROTC:  Vermont Army National Guard

Simultaneous Membership Program Cadet - 1981

Norwich University ROTC Program 1981

Tour of Duty:  December 7TH, 1978 - July 1989

 

Captain Johnston was born in Greenville, Maine.  He was a 1978 graduate of Greenville High School, where he lettered in three sports; Soccer, Basketball and Baseball.

 

He attended Norwich University, in Vermont from 1978 to 1982; graduating with a BS in Environmental Engineering.  During that time, he was an enlisted member of the 1/86th Field Artillery, Vermont Army National Guard where he received an officer’s commission in his junior year; branched Field Artillery.  Upon graduation he was brought on Active Duty in the Engineer Branch (Combat Engineers)

 

He served at Fort Polk, Louisiana in the 5TH Mechanized Infantry Division, 7TH Engineers; while there, he served as a Platoon Leader and worked in the Post’s Environmental Office, overseeing environmental compliance.  Then at Fort Belvior, Virginia, he served as school cadre training Second Lieutenants.  In Germany he served as both a Battalion S4, and as an HHC Company Commander.

 

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:  Medal of Valor, Silver Medal for Valor, Defense Freedom Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terror Medal and the Iraq Medal on Terror.

 

CIVILIAN DUTIES:  Held positions in the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Fields.  He was the EHS manager for General Electric, Pioneer Plastics (PIONITE LAMINATE) and a consultant to many of the paper mills throughout the New England area.

 

In March of 2003 he was deployed to Iraq, and held various positions for major restoration projects and the protection of high value targets.  He was site manager for the overall safety of 100 to 150 Bearing Point Staff who resided in the Al Hayat Hotel on Karada Avenue in downtown Bagdad, Iraq; comprised of various personnel with expertise in financial and economic recovery. 

 

His staff was comprised of approximately 300 Kurds, 12 Gurkhas, 40-50 expatriates, and 20-25 local Iraqi drivers with GMC Suburbans.  He was responsible to transport the Bearing Point personnel to and from the hotel to perform duties at the various ministries throughout the vicinity of Baghdad and ensuring their safety after working hours.  During his time as site manager, no clients were injured.

       

Was the Site manager in Fallujah responsible for the site laydown facility and living area for the contraction of a high-tension power line from the Haditha Power Generation Dam down thru Al-Assad Airbase, through Fallujah to Baghdad.    Responsible for the overall safety of US Army Corps of Engineers personnel, Civilian Contractors and 150-200 Turkish workers.  The staff was comprised of 250-300 Kurds, half-dozen Gurkhas and 4-6 Expatriates.  At the beginning of the project there were problems with the security with the power line in the evenings; local security personnel were hired and the issue was resolved.

          

Al Kisik Iraq Army Training Base Site Manager for the safety and project management for the construction of two, 1,100 square meter, medical clinics.  The workers were comprised of Iraqi nationals with two Americans as well.  This project was complex due to the vastness of the area and difficulties in getting materials, equipment and workers to the worksite.  In addition, the project was delayed for almost two months due to a major insurgent attack that lasted for approximately 90 minutes.  He was seriously injured in that attack, but remained on site for four months, before returning home.

       

Captain Johnston is willing to present to any organization pertaining to his projects.  He only asks to be able to talk about the MOWW and its mission of developing Youth Leaders.  You can email him though the “Ask the Commander” page here to arrange a presentation.

 

Addition Information about Captain Johnston

 

NORWICH UNIVERSITY PLAQUE OF VALOR

 

Captain Johnston, United States Army, was inducted into the Norwich University Plaque of Valor for graduates who have received the Distinguished Service Cross or Medal of Honor for actions in combat.  In addition, Captain Johnston had received the OSD Medal for valor, the highest medal for valor awarded to a civilian (see below)

 

AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF VALOR

by General David Petraeus

 

GEN PetreausThe Secretary of Defense takes great pleasure in awarding the Medal of Valor to Mr. Alan Johnston for performing an act of heroism with voluntary risk of his personal safety in the face of danger on August, 7, 2004.  

 

On that afternoon insurgents launched a coordinated complex attack on the Al Kasik Military Training Base, Northwest of Mosul, Iraq.  During the most intense period of incoming fire which lasted over ninety minutes, insurgent forces employed rockets, mortars and two Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices in an unsuccessful effort the destroy the Iraqi Army Forces training there. 

 

During the attack, Mr. Johnson acted without hesitation to sound the alarm and direct others to take cover.  Within seconds of his actions, an explosion resulted in significant damage to the headquarters building.  With total disregard for his own safety, and despite suffering from his own injuries, Mr. Johnston began to triage victims and administer treatment to other who were injured during the attack.  He then proceeded through the rubble, again exposing himself to enemy fire, to assess victims of the Base Command Center.  Utilizing materials on hand, Mr. Johnston assisted in the quickly fabricating several stretchers from broken doors, desks and chairs.  Mr. Johnson provided necessary care and remained with the injured troops until they were loaded on MEDIVAC helicopters. 

 

Mr. Johnston’s courageous actions under fire, selfless dedication to duty, and willingness to answer the call of duty reflect great credit upon himself, his family and the United State Department of Defense, and the United States of America.  Signed, Robert Mr. Gates Secretary of Defense, United States of America.

 

 

HEROICS OF ALAN JOHNSTON -- (Senate - November 14, 2006)

 

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and recognize with the highest esteem Mr. Alan Johnston of Windsor, ME, for the tremendous courage and enormous valor he demonstrated in Iraq in 2004 that helped save many lives.

 

CPT Aaron P. Hill of the U.S. Marine Corps recounted in a witness statement that Alan Johnston's heroic actions on August 7, 2004, had he been in military uniform, would have earned him a medal. Mr. Johnston, a civilian contractor who was overseeing construction of two medical clinics in Iraq, acted swiftly and selflessly to rescue others during a suicide attack on the headquarters facility at the Al Kasik Military Base located approximately 35 miles northwest of Mosul, Iraq.

 

Captain Hill was part of a unit advising Iraqi soldiers in Northern Iraq. He credits Mr. Johnston with saving a number of lives after insurgents drove two water trucks packed with as many as 8,000 pounds of explosives to the headquarters building. The blasts from this insurgent attack lasted over 90 minutes and destroyed the 2-level headquarters building, resulting in 14 deaths and an estimated 40 severely to critically injured people.

 

Acting without hesitation, Mr. Johnston sounded the alarm, throwing those around him to the floor, saving many lives. In the devastation that followed, acting with total disregard to his own safety, Mr. Johnston emerged from the wreckage and began to assist in evacuating and treating the survivors. Despite the continuing barrage of mortars and rockets, Mr. Johnston continued to offer help with his medical expertise, calm demeanor, and steadfast devotion to helping his fellow man.

 

Mr. Johnston not only reduced casualties and treated the wounded but restored critical support systems, including power and water. He also helped to find ways to feed the thousands of Iraqi soldiers dependent on the American military for support.

 

Alan Johnston, a 6-year veteran of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and an emergency medical technician for nearly 18 years, suffered injuries to his head and leg but treated himself and remained at the base in Iraq for 3 months after the attack. He left Iraq in December of 2004 and underwent another series of leg surgeries once he returned to the United States.

 

As a result of Captain Hill's eyewitness account of Alan Johnston's actions, last month I had the solemn privilege of pinning the Defense of Freedom Medal on Mr. Johnston's lapel at a medal ceremony held at my Augusta, ME, office with Mr. Johnston's family present, officially acknowledging these courageous actions. This award is a rare and unique commendation issued only to civilians and is equivalent to the Purple Heart awarded to military service men and women.

 

But what is most remarkable is that this occasion marked the first time a civilian, private contractor was awarded this particular medal. Mr. Johnston's lifesaving response to serve and sacrifice on behalf of others was something he chose to do. It was not his duty. It was not his responsibility it was his goodwill and American patriotism that drove him to put his life at risk in order to assist and save others. There is only one word that sufficiently describes this exemplary Mainer, and that word is hero. I was extremely proud to present him with the Defense of Freedom Medal.

 

Mr. Johnston's awe-inspiring willingness to think of others ahead of himself will forever be remembered by those whose lives he touched and saved that day. The courageous commitment and valiant care demonstrated by Alan Johnston of Windsor, ME, exemplifies the very best of what it means to be a Mainer and an American

 

Alan Johnston shows special everyday courage

Published June 26, 2019 in Community, Windsor /by Website Editor

 

It is always inspiring to see how our combat-injured veterans may rise above the limitations of their permanent injuries and restore themselves to full and active lives. Alan D. Johnston, of Windsor, a former U.S. Army captain active in veterans affairs, and who is now the commander of the Maine Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars, exemplifies the indomitable spirit we so admire in our injured service personnel. These veterans truly show the rest of us a special kind of everyday courage.

 

Although legally blind, Alan recently competed in the National Veterans Golden Age Games, for those 55 and older, divided into various categories including male and female divisions, wheelchair bound, visually-handicapped and ambulatory. As with other senior athletic competitions, entrants compete against contemporaries in five-year age blocs, and in categories matching those with similar abilities and handicaps. Any veteran over 55, handicapped or not, may compete. This year, about 750 veterans from 48 states competed in the 33rd National Veterans Golden Age Games, in Anchorage, Alaska.

 

Alan won in his age category of visually-impaired veterans in five events, receiving gold medals in bowling, horseshoes, and shuffle board, and bronze medals in blind disc golf and bocci. He is also a recipient of the Department of Defense Valor Award, a civilian award equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross.

 

Alan is very proud of his service dog Gypsy, a five-year-old Malinois. They have been together for four years having gone through a 40-week training course. The Military Order of the World Wars was established 100 years ago under the leadership of the legendary General John J. Pershing, and is open to all active and former military officers. Those interested in possibly joining the order may get more information from the website at mainemoww.org.