Copperas Cove soldier killed in June, laid to rest

By BRITTANY FHOLER 
Cove Leader-Press

Friends and family of Sgt. James Johnston gathered at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery for final goodbye as he was officially laid to rest with an interment ceremony on December 20. 
Johnston, who died on June 25, had also been remembered and celebrated by family and friends back on Independence Day at the Johnstons’ residence in House Creek North community in Copperas Cove. Johnston and his wife, Krista, who was expecting at the time of his death, had moved to Copperas Cove in February, a week before deploying in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.  The two had learned she was expecting the day before he deployed.
The Patriot Guard Riders stood watch in the rain last Friday as friends and family honored Johnston’s memory. Johnston’s wife, Krista, thanked everyone for coming, holding their baby girl, Jamie Avery-Grace Johnston in a carrier on her front. 
“I know Jamie is so lucky to have the extended family that she does, and I know she’ll always be taken care of and she’ll always have lots of stories of her daddy,” Krista said. “I have no idea where I’d be without my family and all of you today. I appreciate it.”
As Krista spoke, Jamie let out a cry, making everyone laugh. 
“I’ve always joked I would never marry James if I had known he was joining before I fell in love with him, but standing here today, knowing where I am and knowing all I’ve been through, I’d do it all over again,” Krista said. “None of us had the time we should have had with him but treasure the time we had.”
Sgt. Josue Sandoval, who had been stationed in South Korea with Johnston years ago, shared some of his own memories of Johnston. Sandoval arrived at Fort Hood shortly after Johnston did. 
“You could have sworn that you lived next door to Mr. Rogers,” Sandoval said. “He always had that smile on his face, and every day was a good day for him. His motivation was like a bad case of the chicken pox. We’d all catch it. By the end of the day, his positivity would rub off on everybody else.”
Sandoval later added that in any conversation with Johnston, it was clear how much he loved his wife and loved his pigs. 
Another soldier who served with Johnston, in Afghanistan, was Sgt. First Class David Barraza, who shared about Johnston’s ability to cheer people up. 
“[He was a] capable, self-reliant, and hilarious guy, whether it was a story or a one-liner at just the right moment, he’d make you laugh even on a bad day, maybe not on his bad days. In my experience, he could be a little surly and quiet, but on your bad days, he could definitely put a smile on your face,” Barraza said. “So, I feel a little robbed. I feel robbed of the good times we should have had back here, at home; robbed of the comic relief that we need on this day; robbed of the memories we should have gathered watching him raise his daughter. I wish I had more time to get to know him better. I really wish I had more time. Instead, I have my memories and the privilege to say that I knew him. Avery Grace Johnston, I’m gonna be there to help your mom make sure you know him too.”
Following the special remarks was a special music arrangement and then a closing prayer before soldiers from Johnston’s unit approached the front, where his ashes lay in a wooden box, to salute and say their goodbyes. 
“It was so amazing to see everyone that came to support us and even more amazing that the whole unit was able to be present for it,” Krista said. “They were James’ family, and now they’re my family, and since they were still in Afghanistan for the funeral, I wanted them to have a chance to say goodbye with our family, as well as have somewhere that everyone can go visit him.”
Sgt. James Johnston’s grave marker is in Section 18, Row U, Space 713. 
Along with Johnston, MSG Michael B. Riley died in Urzugan Province, Afghanistan from wounds sustained from small arms fire while engaged in combat operations.