SgtMajor O’Neal Johnson
Jr., USMC,
Marine Corps. SgtMajor O’Neal Johnson Jr., spent a year in Afghanistan instructing its National Army Tour of duty in Afghanistan: September 2010-August 2011. The murder of 13 US service members by the ISIS-K terror group during the US pullout one year ago was a “moral injury” to Sergeant Major O’Neal Johnson Jr., who spent a year in Afghanistan instructing the Afghan National Army. This past year, he has been tirelessly trying to address the suffering of his fellow
Afghanistan War vets.“The Silent Veteran” — an organization he founded to assist his fellow vets, including those who are homeless and struggling with mental health issues — is holding its first event this month connecting vets with resources for housing and healthcare.“A lot of vets won’t reach out for help, so I said, ‘What can I do to help that silent vet?’ I try to connect them to resources.”“A lot of vets won’t reach out for help,” said Johnson, who counsels other former soldiers through an organization he started.One tool he cites is the Veterans Crisis Line — part of a recent federal effort to improve mental health support for veterans.“I encourage them to dial 988 and press 1,” he said. “It’s like dialing 911 if you are having suicidal ideations or you’re in a bad way.”In addition to his concern for vets, Johnson feels for Afghans left behind under Taliban rule.In addition to his concern for vets, Johnson feels for Afghans left behind under Taliban rule. It “baffles” him that the US failed to utilize its many air bases — like Bagram, Kandahar, and Shindand — to vet Afghan allies, facilitating more transfers at the war’s end. “You can’t just have one base with everyone rushing to get to Kabul … maybe there was a good reason but I’d like to know why they didn’t use all those air bases.” Though Johnson laments the poor execution of the withdrawal, he ultimately supported it. “The US was in a 20-year war and it needed to end. “In ancient Greece, they had 20-year wars. “There were no winners.” Read Oneal’s Own Take On Afghan War
