Col. Myron Thorne Johnston (Ret.)

Services for Colonel Myron Thorne Johnston will be on Tuesday July 27, 2010 at 10 AM at the 1st Cavalry Division Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Killeen Memorial Park.

He died on July 22 at the age of 92 after battling a broken shoulder and other ailments.

The family will receive visitors at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home on Monday July 26, 2010 from 6 to 8 PM. You may share memories of Colonel Johnston at www.crawfordbowersfuneralhome.com.

Myron Thorne Johnston was born on 21 July, 1918, in Cleveland, Oklahoma to Myron Thomas Johnston and Reva Valley Thorne Johnston. He graduated from Classen Senior High School in Oklahoma City in 1936, and studied electrical engineering at the University of Oklahoma and was a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps. He received a Reserve Officers Commission as a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery on 17 May, 1940; and was called to active duty on 15 August, 1940. He received a Regular Army Commission as a Second Lieutenant on 20 February, 1942. He married Sara Sue Highsmith at North Camp Hood, Texas, on 5 June, 1943. He retired at Fort Hood, Texas, on 1 February, 1972.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Army General Staff Badge, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster.

He was a graduate of the Artillery Officers Advanced Course, the Armor Officers Advanced Course, the Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Science Degree in Management Science at the American Technological University, Killeen, Texas.

He was a member of the first Board of Trustees of Metroplex Hospital, and served two terms on the City of Harker Heights Planning and Zoning Commission, and one term on the Harker Heights Board of Tax Equalization. He was the chairman of the 1st Cavalry Division Association Finance and Budget Committee and the Executive Trustee of the Foundation of the 1st Cavalry Division Association, and a Distinguished Member of the 9th Cavalry Regiment. He was a life member of the Association of the United States Army, the 1st Cavalry Division Association, the United States Armor Association, the Military Officers of America Association, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a Charter Member of the World War II Memorial Society.

Colonel Johnston was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Sara Sue Johnston, and one brother, Darrell Russell Johnston. He is survived by one son, Myron Thomas Johnston II .

Memorials may be sent to the Foundation of the 1st Cavalry Division Association, or a charity of your choice.