Matthew "Matt" Elliott Johnson

I met Matt in 1997 when I tried out for the USMC JROTC Drill Team. Transferring from an Army JROTC school made me an immediate outcast, but Matt overlooked my err in judgement and gave me a chance. Matt loved the Marine Corps through-and-through, more than anyone else that I've ever met, and he would regularly correct me when I called the bathroom anything other than the "head" or my hat, a "cover." That year over a series of after-school training sessions, competitions, and weekends out in town, our friendship grew. I learned quickly that Matt could make friends with anyone, anywhere, and I often joked that Matt was regularly running for political office wherever we were. His personality was magnetic. The following year, I joined the Army much to Matt's chagrin and he was excited to be joining the Marine Corps the next year after graduating high school. As much as I tried convincing him to join the Army as well, Matt wasn't having any of it and would often joke that he would be joining the "Men's Department" of the military - I would typically respond with, "You mean the Men's Department of the Navy." We would lock eyes and agree to a temporary cease-fire, until we met again to resume the debate. During those early years of our military service, I visited Matt at Camp Pendleton and he visited me at Ft. Campbell. We shared our initial experiences and thoughts in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, and against our leaderships' guidance, we hit the towns of Tijuana and Nashville, and many in-between, whenever we had the chance - I have a photo somewhere of Matt and I getting stopped by CBP while wearing ridiculously large (3-4ft) sombreros. Again, Matt's ability to connect with people on a personal level got us out of that one. Heck, thinking back on it, Matt's people skills even got us out of a speeding ticket when we decided to drag race our friend (Moiria) down Boughton road. He could easily have run for Mayor. As Matt and I prepared for the invasion of Iraq with our respective units, much of our time was focused on training and preparation, and we rarely chatted. Then, as the war kicked off, we completely lost touch. I didn't learn of Matt's medical evacuation from Iraq back to the U.S. until nearly a year later in 2004. I was happy to hear that Matt was alive, and saddened to hear that Matt would be leaving his beloved Marine Corps. I knew this was one of the most difficult decisions in Matt's life, but he assured me that becoming a Marine was something that would be part of him for the rest of his life, in words I'd heard him say so often before, "Once a Marine, always a Marine." As the years went on, Matt was processing this new life back at home, while I disconnected with most people - friends and family alike, including Matt. It wasn't until the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, that Matt and I re-connected. We both wanted to help and were seeking personal and professional satisfaction that we hadn't had in years. After years of not speaking, it took only a few minutes to plan out how we would support Haitian relief efforts. Over the next 4-5 months, we volunteered for everything that we could, ranging from mission trips to Haiti supporting orphanages and schools, to serving as pharmacist assistants for NGOs and logisticians for the Red Cross. It was fulfilling work, but we had bills to pay at home and we returned to our previous lives. Matt's journey led him to marriage and having a family, and my path led the other direction - I again disconnected with most people and focused on work. Over the years, I'd log into Facebook every now and then to see how folks were doing and how father time has impacted each of us. Matt continued to honor the Marine Corps, support the Kansas City Chiefs, and maintained that contagious smile of his, in nearly every photo posted of him. I saw how much he loved his family and how he was loved by so many, always the magnetic personality wherever he was. Three weeks ago while overseas for work, I received a phone call from an unknown number late at night. I let it go to voicemail promising/lying to myself that I'd check it later. I returned home more than a week later, having not listened to my personal voicemails yet. I again logged into Facebook to see how folks were doing and saw that something happened with Matt. Within a few minutes I found out that Matt had passed away. I then checked my voicemail and heard Matt's voice, asking how things were going and wanting to connect sometime soon. I will forever regret this... I pray that Matt knew how much he was loved, and that his family knows how much of an impact Matt made on so many people around the World. From the friends he made throughout his journey, to the kids in Haiti that loved his strength and smile, Matt will be remembered by countless people for his magnetic personality and larger-than-life heart. The Pearly Gates of Heaven have another angel to stand watch until we meet again. Rest in Peace, Matt. ~Eric