A son, a friend, a proud Marine

SCRANTON – When 19-year old Dominic Rodriguez’s mother told him Thursday afternoon that U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Larry Michael Johnson was killed earlier that day in Afghanistan he went numb.

He couldn’t believe that he would never see his lifelong childhood friend again.

“It is such a sad thing when I heard about it. I was bawling my eyes out when I heard about it,” Rodriguez said Saturday afternoon, noting he regrets not going to see Johnson when he came home for a visit before being deployed overseas.

“I didn’t go see him because I didn’t want this to happen. Now it’s kicking me in the butt because I should’ve.”

Johnson, 19, died in the Helmand province in Afghanistan Thursday after being involved in a hostile incident involving the enemy after only being in the country for four months, according to 2nd Marine Division spokesman 1st Lt. Evan Pettyjohn.

Johnson, who joined the Marine Corps after graduating from Scranton High School in 2008, was deployed to Afghanistan in October as part of the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The Johnson family met his body at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Saturday. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Rodriguez and Johnson grew up together from the time they were both 3-year olds in the Hilltop Manor Apartments in South Scranton.

He described his friend as a laid back person who enjoyed hanging out with his buddies as they watched MTV.

“He was never mad ever. He went through a lot in his life and never did he let that bring him down. He was always with a smile on his face.,” Rodriguez said.

Although both were the same age, Rodriguez looked up to Johnson as a role model. He recalled just speaking with Johnson a week ago as they instant messaged each other and Johnson encouraged Rodriguez to follow his dream of enlisting in the Air Force.

He thinks the best way for people to honor Johnson is to work to accomplish their dreams.

“I think after this that life is way too short because the kid is gone now. I think they will look at Larry and see what an inspiration he was because of how much he did, how much he has been through in his life. Now he gives hope to a lot of people who are just like him,” Rodriguez said.

And their mothers quickly became fast friends, too. In fact, Rodriguez’s mom, Amy, calls Johnson’s mom, Johanna, a sister.

She was with the Johnson family Thursday afternoon shortly after they received a visit from Marine Corps representatives.

She noted how the Johnson family is unbelievably close. Larry Johnson was the third of four children. He has two older sisters and a younger brother.

“He loved his mom so much. He wanted the best for his mom. His mother would walk over fire for him. He was their hero. They loved him so much,” Amy Rodriquez said.

She noted that Johnson purchased his mother a brand new vehicle recently so she had reliable transportation.

Scranton High School Principal Eric Schaeffer recalled Johnson as a polite, friendly student who looked forward to joining the Marines.

“I can picture him walking down the hall – blond hair and bright blue eyes, always smiling,” he said.

Schaeffer recalled how proud Johnson’s mother was of her son when she dropped off a picture of him in his Marine uniform at the school earlier in the week.

Johnson’s younger brother is a sophomore at the high school. Schaeffer said the school’s counseling staff is prepared to meet with any students, staff or teachers who need someone to talk to.

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The death of Lance Cpl. Larry Johnson of Scranton in Afghanistan brings tears and reminiscences.

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