U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Donna R. Johnson of the North Carolina Army National Guard was among 14 people killed Monday when a Taliban suicide bomber rammed a motorcycle packed with explosives into a joint U.S.-Afghan patrol in eastern Afghanistan.
Johnson, of Raeford, N.C., who was lesbian, is survived by her spouse Tracy Dice, according to a statement by Lt. Col. Robert Carver of the North Carolina National Guard.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Donna R. Johnson
Photo: North Carolina Army National Guard
The Associated Press reported that Johnson’s remains were flown into Dover Air Force Base Tuesday evening.
Johnson was a member of the 514th Military Police Company, which is based in Winterville, N.C.
Two other members of the 514th M.P. Company — Sgt. Jeremy F. Hardison, 23, of Browns Summit and Sgt. Thomas J. Butler IV, 25, of Leland — were killed in the attack, as were an Afghan translator working with the American troops, four local police officers and six civilians.
“We are still grieving for these soldiers, their families and their unit members still carrying on with their mission,” said Maj. Gen. Gregory A. Lusk, adjutant general of the North Carolina National Guard. “They were the embodiment of citizen soldiers who put everything on hold to go in harm’s way for all of us. They will be remembered and sorely missed.”
Johnson joined the North Carolina National Guard in August 2006. She had previously deployed to Iraq from 2007 to 2008. Her awards and decorations included the Combat Action Badge, Iraq Campaign Medal and Army Commendation Medal.
She is a former Corrections Officer for the Harnett Correction Institution in Lillington, N.C., and prior to her deployment she was under contract as a Tactical Expert for an IED Training Range at Fort Bragg.
Filed under: National Headlines
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Blessings and sympathies to her family..
Prayers goes out to her family
Thank you for your service and sacrifice. My sympathies to your loved ones…
Blessings and symptahies to her Family.
Thank you! We miss you!
I don’t like headlines like that. why not say: US soldier who someone loved deeply died needlessly in a war making international banks and corporations rich
Thank you for giving your life for something basically useless. Like this whole war shouldn’t have started in the first place.
R.I.P. soldier WE salute YOU
May she R.I.P. Prayers are being sent to her partner and family in North Carolina. Thank you very much for your service to our Nation soldier. My dad was a staff sergeant too during World War 2.
May God rest and keep her soul close.
:’- (
Thank you,and RIP!
Very sad! Rest in Peace !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ca8_WRrjmg
R.I.P. and thank u for protecting us.
Im Sorry, but this headline should read “Soldier among 14 people Killed in Taliban Suicide Bomber Attack”. We want equal, we want to be a part, we should not self self segregate! She was a Sergeant. She lost her life for our Country, her sexuality is not an issue. My condolences to her family. St. Michael will hold your hand on your next journey, and the sounds of 7×7 shall ring for you tonight.
RIP, and thank you for your service.