Jim Johnson passed away on March 21, 2024, at his home in Springfield. Some years earlier, Jim had retired as a brigade chaplain lieutenant colonel following a career that spanned 37 years in the U.S. Army. He had served as a chaplain, not only at various bases within the U.S. but also in Kosovo, Bosnia, Germany, Iraq, Kuwait and Macedonia. This included back-to-back combat zone deployments and he sustained injuries in Iraq.
Born on Nov. 3, 1953, in Elmira, N.Y., Jim eventually earned a degree from the United Theological Seminary and an MA from the University of Illinois. In many ways, his career made perfect sense, because he experienced a calling early in life was to serve God and his country. The son of a World War II veteran, Jim’s childhood hero was Audie Murphy.
Jim was very proud of his service and wore his uniform and medals respectfully. He had been awarded the Bronze Star and too many awards and medals to mention. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion; was an Illinois and National AMVETS chaplain; Four Chaplains inductee; and a Grand Mason.
Jim valued his brotherhood of battle buddies and their ongoing commitment to protect one another. Having witnessed the horrors of war firsthand, he helped to train new chaplains to help soldiers who had been traumatized. Additionally, he made a personal commitment to not abandon his unit’s Iraqi translator, Mirvet Nassrulla. Eventually, he helped her move to the U.S. and was her sponsor to become a U.S. citizen on June 14, 2019, at the Old State Capitol. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth presided over the oath of allegiance that Mirvet and the others recited. It was perhaps one of the greatest moments of joy for both Jim and Mirvet. Regrettably, Mirvet returned to her Baghdad to be treated for an ailment and she died of a stroke while in the hospital around Thanksgiving 2022. Jim was devastated by that loss and carried that grief for the remaining years of his life.
Rev. Martin Woulfe
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This article appears in Remembering 2024.
