Sergeant who died in Afghanistan comes home to Fort Hood

Sgt. James Gregory Johnston was honored Friday with a dignified transfer ceremony at Fort Hood, Texas.

Johnston, 24, died of injuries from small arms fire during combat operations June 25 in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.

He deployed with 79th Ordnance Battalion, 71st Ordnance Group, 48th Chemical Brigade.

A post on a Fort Hood Facebook page noted that the soldier’s family wore Hawaiian shirts in memory of the soldier who had a fondness for colorful shirts.

“The Family has asked on their social media accounts for people to honor Johnston by wearing Hawaiian shirts today,” the post said.

Johnston and Master Sgt. Micheal B. Riley, a 32-year-old Green Beret with 10th Special Forces Group , both died from injuries from small arms fire on June 25 in Uruzgan province. The Defense Department is investigating the incident.

Johnston’s battalion commander remembered the Purple Heart recipient as "the epitome of what we as soldiers all aspire to be: intelligent, trained, always ready."

"We will honor his service and his sacrifice to this nation as we continue to protect others from explosive hazards around the world,” Lt. Col. Stacy M. Enyeart said in a statement.

A memorial service for Johnston is planned for 1 p.m. July 8, local station KWTX reported. Details of the location were not yet available from Fort Hood officials.

Sgt. James G. Johnston died from injuries he sustained in a small arms fire during a combat operation Tuesday, June 25, in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.

About Kathleen Curthoys

Kathleen Curthoys is editor of Army Times. She has been an editor at Military Times for 20 years, covering issues that affect service members. She previously worked as an editor and staff writer at newspapers in Columbus, Georgia; Huntsville, Alabama; Bloomington, Indiana; Monterey, California and in Germany.