Semper Gumby

Many things from his time in the military stick with Scott Johnson, including “Semper Gumby” or “Always Flexible” which is a phrase that comes from his former First Sergeant.

Born in West Point, Nebr., Johnson’s family moved to Chatfield, Minn., when he was about a year old and he attended school there until fifth grade when they moved to Harmony, Minn. He graduated from Fillmore Central in 2001.

In May of 2001, just weeks before graduating high school, at the age of 18, Johnson joined the Army Reserve.

When asked why he joined the service, Johnson says, “Some of the reasons that I joined may sound somewhat cliché, but also were very real to me,” one of which was the fact that growing up he always knew his grandpa, Bernhard Erickson, was in the Navy.

“I had always had a deep respect for veterans, and felt that as they had done their part to ensure my freedoms, I also owed that to my peers, and to the future generations,” states Johnson.

He attended basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., followed by Advanced Individual Training (AIT) as a Combat Medic at Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Tex.

“Week four of my AIT contained a very eye opening incident that changed the attitude of my training for sure,” says Johnson, further explaining “that incident being the infamous day of September 11, 2001,” a day which every American remembers.

“It was easy to see the change in seriousness of our training, as it was evident that we were not simply learning our craft for knowledge sake – we were learning in order to support our units in a time of war,” says Johnson.

He was assigned as a medic to the 79th Military Police Company, which was located on Marion Road in Rochester, Minn., at the time and has since been moved to Wabasha, Minn. Johnson served with the 79th throughout the time he was in the Army, aside from when he was deployed.

In December 2003, Johnson was deployed to Abu Ghraib Prison, later known as Baghdad Central Correctional Facility, with the 391st Military Police Battalion from Columbus, Ohio. The prison was filled with more than 7,000 detainees and no more than 500 U.S. Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force personnel. “Our mission was to guard detainees that had been arrested and brought to the prison,” states Johnson.

“Our arrival in country was expedited by the need to have the current units stationed at Abu Ghraib replaced. This need was driven by the photo scandal that occurred in November of 2003 that was brought to public light and public knowledge in April of 2004,” explains Johnson.

“Needless to say, this scandal, both when it occurred and when it was brought to public light, definitely set the attitude of the prisoners and local public, and made our mission all the more difficult,” says Johnson.

Johnson served in the military for 8 1/2 years, from May 2001 to November of 2009. He was discharged in November of 2009 at the rank of Specialist, or E-4.

Although he is now out of the military, there are many things that will stay with him forever as Johnson says, “The Army has taught me a great many things” that will never be forgotten.

“One thing that always sticks in my mind was a phrase that my 1st Sergeant always put at the end of his section in the monthly blotter: “Semper Gumby” – in other words he was reminding us to be Always Flexible,” notes Johnson.

“This was often important to remember, as there were many times that the training or projects that were scheduled could often times either be rescheduled, or simply not happen,” he adds.

“Something else I learned in the Army, past my medical training, was how close complete strangers can become by sharing the same experience,” Johnson states, as he explains, “one fear that I had as a medic being deployed with a new unit went past the normal anxiety, because I didn’t know anyone and being a fairly shy individual, this is often a difficult thing for me” in certain situations, this being one of them.

“Even past this, though, is the fact that when you deploy, you are in a position that you know the people with you and you know that they have your back, and they know that you have theirs,” as Johnson explains further, stating, “as a medic, this feeling is heightened even more, in the fact that if they come to me, it potentially may be in the most dire of circumstances,” and they were counting on him to help them in their time of need.

“So now, there is a large group of soldiers that I don’t know that I am trusting to have my back, and I am asking them to trust their lives to my ability as a medic,” but adds, “one thing that made it even the smallest bit easier was that I was not the only individual soldier from the 79th that deployed with this new unit,” as he went along with 14 others from his unit, so it helped to have a few people he knew along with him.

“While deployed, I learned that there are some things that are universal language; a cry for help, the mourning of a lost loved one, and alternatively a laugh and a smile are all universally understood,” says Johnson.

“The ability to work as a medic and offer something as small as a needed medication, or a bandage and IV to wounded detainees showed that it is possible to change negative feelings and preconceptions of people,” states Johnson, adding, “sometimes by offering to meet even the most basic of needs, you can change the hate that can be held inside some” and make a difference.

The ability to be Always Flexible is relevant in every day civilian life every bit as much as while in the military, whether it is an unexpected traffic jam or a change in plans. “The ability to not be stunned into inactivity because of a change in what you had planned is a very great ability,” states Johnson.

Johnson knows that he now has a “brotherhood that foregoes blood relatives,” as he says, “I have a second family that if things get rough, I know that I still have friends that would support me through it all, because we have a friendship that was forged in such a way that we are not simply friends, rather we are family” in a very real way.

Adjusting to life after being deployed is understandably difficult, as Johnson says, “Due to the public knowledge of the photo scandals in Abu Ghraib, there were many times that we sustained mortar attacks on our base. During the year that we were stationed at Abu Ghraib, we sustained attacks by 300+ mortar rounds and Rocket Propelled Grenades,” which of course, were very unnerving to say the least.

“Because of this, I can still get a bit jumpy at unexpected loud noises, but have become more accustomed to the everyday noises again since returning home,” says Johnson.

Johnson currently lives in Preston, Minn., with his wife Patricia and their children Xander-8, Slade-6, and Paizley-1, and works in Information Technology (IT) for Fillmore County.

After serving his country, Johnson says, “I have a deeper love and respect for veterans, not only of veterans from my era, but even more so for veterans of past wars. Simply performing the duties that I did, and seeing what little action that I saw, and knowing the severity of some fighting that I did not experience both in these days and past wars, I deeply appreciate what other veterans gave to ensure my freedoms” and the freedoms of every U.S. citizen.

When asked what being a veteran means to him, Johnson replied, “ To me, being a veteran means that I deeply appreciate the sacrifices made by others in order to ensure that my freedoms and rights as an American stand,” which is what they fought for.

“And because of this deep appreciation, I have chosen to stand up next in line, not only as a means of saying thank you to previous generation of veterans, but also as a means of trying to ensure that these rights are passed on to my children and future generations,” states Johnson.

“Being a veteran means that I have friends and family around me that made sacrifices along with me in order to support me, whether it be serving with me, or supporting me in my service,” says Johnson, adding “without the support of my friends and family, I would not have been able to serve as well as I did.”

“There is no veteran who does not have loved ones and friends behind them making sacrifices in order to ensure that they can serve to their fullest potential. Whether it is a spouse watching children while the veteran serves, or friends and family sending pictures, letters and treats in order to offer pieces of home no matter where the veteran is serving,” says Johnson.

As we go through our daily lives and tasks, each of us needs to take time to say thank you and show respect to our veterans. And let’s all try to remember to be Always Flexible.