Journal of a Veteran

Private Harry Johnston
    Private Harry Johnston was my grandfather; my father’s father.  At age 15, he ran away from his orphanage in Iowa to join the Army.  He changed our family name from Johnson to Johnston so they could not track him , lied about his age, and entered the Army prior WWI.  At the [...]

John Wesley Cooksey
    Wes Cooksey was my wife’s grandfather.  Our first son is named after him and unfortunately, I never got to meet him because he died of a stroke before my wife and I ever met.  However, I am very familiar with his military service since he was an excellent “documenter” with his extremely [...]

Arthur Caldwell Cason Jr.
1918-2005
Captain Arthur Caldwell Cason, Jr. died at his home in Bradenton, FL in 2005 after a long, valiant battle with cancer. He was 87. Casey, as he was known to his friends, was born March 20, 1918 and raised in Norfolk, Virginia.   He signed up to become a naval aviator and was [...]

Jack Bradley
Jack Bradley was my wife’s great uncle.  He flew a P-51B “Mustang” with the 354th Fighter Group of the 9th Air Force.  They were called the Pioneer Mustang Group because they were the first to receive the P-51.  His squadron was the 353rd Fighter Squadron.  The Group flew its first combat mission in ETO [...]