Honoring our military's heroes: It is never too late to get it right

Major General Charlie D. Costanza serves as the commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield.

Memorial Day is an opportunity for Americans to pay homage and renew their commitment to service members who died serving our great nation. It is a call to remember their lives, their courage, their legacy and their service.

One needs no better tangible example of sacrifice and quiet tribute than to spend time at Warrior’s Walk.

Four hundred sixty-nine White Crape Myrtle trees line the ends of Cottrell Field, each planted as a living memorial to the soldiers and attached units of the 3rd Infantry Division who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

It is an overwhelming sight, but also a symbol of how America is different in how it honors its fallen, and never forgets its own.

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See the authorization here: H.R.5839 - To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Charles R. Johnson

In the Army, we consider our greatest asset to be our people. Our all-volunteer Army is a credit to Americans of all races, genders and creeds; and our common commitment to defense and love of country binds us together and unifies us.

That goes to the heart of what it means to be an American. It is important to educate our citizens and to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day to not only learn from our history, but to also honor the legacy of men and women in uniform who made the ultimate sacrifice.

As the commanding general of the U.S. Army’s most decorated division, with 61 Medal of Honor recipients, I am proud beyond words to be associated with such selflessness.

One of the 3rd Infantry Divison’s many heroes is at the foremost of my thoughts this year, and I hope he will soon be one celebrated across our nation: Pfc. Charles R. Johnson.

Honoring a hero

As a part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 signed by President Joe Biden in December 2021, Johnson and four other U.S. Army Soldiers are now eligible to receive the Medal of Honor. Johnson is the epitome of what it means to be a Dogface Soldier.

During the summer of 1953, Charlie Johnson deployed to Korea as a Browning Automatic Rifleman with the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division in support of the ongoing war. In early June, Johnson’s regiment was tasked with defending Outpost Harry at all costs.

On the night of June 11, 1953, Johnson’s position came under fire by enemy forces.

During the battle, Johnson acted with complete disregard for his personal safety to ensure the safety of his fellow soldiers. Ignoring his own injuries, he treated several wounded comrades, dragging one soldier through the trenches to a secure bunker while under direct artillery, mortar and small arms fire, stopping only to clear the path of enemy soldiers in close combat operations.

Without regard to the proximity of the enemy, he left the bunker to assess the situation and secure weapons and ammunition. Upon returning, he organized a defense and again departed his fighting position in order to place himself between his fellow Dogface Soldiers and the enemy, thereby creating the conditions for their successful rescue. Johnson was killed in action on June 12.

Recognition, decades later

Johnson’s heroic actions and sacrifice were recognized posthumously with a Silver Star in 2011.

This was in large part to people like Donald Dingee, one of the soldiers Johnson saved and also went to high school with, who dedicated much of his life to campaign for Johnson to receive the Medal of Honor.

In 2021 U.S. Representatives Antonio Delgado and Earl “Buddy” Carter also helped the cause by writing to the President, urging him to consider awarding Johnson our country’s highest award for valor.

As we continue to relook recognition for soldiers like Johnson to make sure we really got this right, I have never been prouder to be a soldier than I am today.  

This Memorial Day, I urge everyone to remember the link we have with the generations that have gone before us who selflessly served our country.

It is never too late for Americans to take time to ask if they use this special day to learn and reflect on those who gave their lives for their fellow soldiers and their country so we can enjoy what we have today.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: This Memorial Day, remember that it's never too late to honor heroes