Today, I take the time to remember a fallen solider, who died fighting for his country and for his life. Army Sgt. La David T. Johnson, who died after fighting for his life fleeing militants who killed about three soldiers in an ambush this October. Even with many speculating as to how the young man lost his life, it was later found that Johnson wasn’t captured alive, nor was he killed via execution or close range humiliation. Johnson probably died the most bravest and honorable death that he could have endured while in his situation…
He died fighting for his country, and fighting a wave of enemies until his last breath was taken. Fighting for his life is how the United States lost a disciplined fallen solider, a great man, but most of all a family man and a father.
Johnson, a 25 year old man from Miami Gardens, Florida was unfortunately shot down by enemy gunfire; coming from members of the Islamic State as reported by U.S. officials. He was ambushed in a dense wooded area over 100 miles north of the African nation’s capital Niamey. His body was recovered by a rescue team about two days later. He was accompanied at the time by 11 other members, all part of the Army Special Forces unit. They were also travelling with about 30 members of the Nigerian forces when they were ambushed by about 50 enemy militants, whom were travelling by foot or using armored transport; carrying machine guns and grenade launchers.
Johnson was caught in crossfire, being struck as many as 18 times as he fled and took cover in a dense bush, firing back at the opposition. Johnson and two other Nigerian soldiers tried to escape, but to no avail; as four U.S. soldiers along with four Nigerien troops suffered causalities during the ambush. The ambush itself also left ten soldiers wounded; two from the U.S. and about eight from the Nigerian forces. Three U.S. soldiers were found the day of the attack, but Johnson was not one of them, which let to rumors swirling around that maybe he had successfully fled the militants and is in hiding, or he has been captured and held off until further notice.
When it comes to the final report, officials concluded that Johnson and two Nigerien soldiers attempted to escape the militants via vehicle transport, but failed leaving them separated from the rest of the group and ended up dying became separated from the others and ended up dying as they were caught fleeing. Out of the three of them, it appeared that Johnson had gotten the farthest before seeking cover in a bush, and stayed there fighting until it was all over. He was found two days later by local forces, and he was still wearing his uniform although but his equipment and boots were stolen. The U.S. military believes that the ambush was most likely caused by informant on the enemy side, who exposed details of the forces stop to a nearby village, before heading off towards the wooded area, most likely setting the platform for the ambush.
When news broke out in the U.S. the family of La David Johnson was heartbroken. They weren’t alone, as the families of the other three U.S. military force members that met their fate also joined in grief. The other U.S. soldiers killed in that ambush were Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black; Staff Sgt. Jeremiah W. Johnson; and Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wright. However, this was also met with some political warfare as the president had a particular choice of words for the Democratic Representative as well as the now widowed wife of La David Johnson, for which Trump told the wife over a phone call that Johnson "knew what he signed up for.” Regardless of the situation in Washington, all we know was that this man, along with others died fighting for the protection of our livelihood.
When will we put media propaganda and politics to the side and care for our fallen soldiers? This article is made in remembrance of all the men who fought bravely, and continue to fight every day for the safety of our great nation. We are all in your debt, and we applaud your courage.
Once again, thank you…
