On Saturday 15 November 2014 at 1 pm the 2014 Veteran of the Year Award Ceremony will be held in the New York State Military Museum. The Annual Award is Co-Sponsored by the Friends of the New York State Military Museum and the Capital District of New York Chapter of the Association of the US Army. Guest Speaker will be The Adjutant General of NY, MG Patrick Murphy, a Veteran. Congressman Chris Gibson, also a Veteran, will attend and present a US Flag. The Public is welcome.
The 2014 Awardee is Colonel, Retired, Charles R. Johnson, a 26 year US Army Officer who served in Viet Nam as a Vietnamese Ranger Advisor, Operations Officer in a US Special Operations Group and as a Battalion Commander in the 9th and 25th Infantry Divisions.
COL Charlie Johnson graduated from the US Military Academy, West Point, NY in 1955 and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry. His assignments were primarily in troop leading positions, but also included two tours at his Alma Mater first in the Physical Education Department, and later in the Intercollegiate Athletics Department. His military education includes the Infantry Officers Basic and Advanced Courses, the Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, Airborne and Ranger Schools and the Pathfinder Course. He has graduate degrees from Columbia University and Penn State University. He retired from the US Army in 1981.
Since arriving in the Capital District in 1999, COL Johnson has been active in community service, including Troy Mayor’s Ethics Committee, Board of Trustees of Oakwood Cemetery, Habitat for Humanity, and the NYS Governor’s Commission for State Veterans Cemeteries. He is a member and past President of the Tri County Council Vietnam Era Veterans, American Legion Post 1610, VFW Post 8444, Veterans of Lansingburgh, the Rensselear County Veterans Organization and Stratton VA Center Volunteer DAV Van Driver. He also serves on an Advisory Board for a Leadership Program at Duke University and is President of his West Point Class.
COL Johnson is married to Trudy Hall, Head of Emma Willard School. He has three children: Sam, US Army Colonel (Ret), West Point Class of 1982; Joe, a resident at Baddour Memorial Center in Senatoria, MS; and Wendy, a fabric designer in Providence, RI.