SGT James G. Johnston was blessed with an abundance of leadership qualities. It would be accurate to say that this man was an outstanding luminary and that his natural abilities served him well. He knew with certainty how he wanted to set priorities in all aspects of his life. He struck those who knew him as the kind of person who awoke in the morning with a clear sense of exactly what he expected from his day and how to set about accomplishing those goals. James was a man who definitely liked order and was most comfortable with an organized and structured lifestyle. When this climate was absent, James would set about immediately to create it.

      James was born on September 16, 1994 at Mother Francise in Tyler, Texas. His parents were Megan Billiot and Richard Johnston. James was raised in Tyler; Houston;and Galveston, Texas as well as Elmira and Trumansburg, Newyork. James was brought up to be reasonable in his actions and was taught to use his intellect wisely. He was an honest and straightforward child, traits that reinforced his self-confidence. Even at a young age, James was credited with having a positive influence on those around him.

      The positive atmosphere that James generated spread to his family. James was raised with five siblings. He had an older sister Courtney, younger aiater Kara, and three younger brothers Ryan, Will, and Brogan. James served as a catalyst within the family. He often found himself in the role of providing fair solutions to those sibling disputes. In every family activity, James was able to demonstrate his uncommon logic and skill at building compromise.

      James's enthusiasm for learning and the personal energy that enthusiasm generated led to his exhibiting leadership qualities early on in his childhood. He liked to see things executed properly and showed a skill for taking control of situations that were drifting out of control. At the same time, he was willing to experiment with different approaches as he worked a plan towards a solution. As a young boy, he took part in baseball, football, and soccer. In his spare time he liked to go to the park.

      When it came to academics and school, James's organizational skills reaped dividends. James was able to create a system for getting his class work done in a proper and timely manner. With a strong ability to analyze his schoolwork and assignments, he could apply a practical, common sense approach completing his studies. He showed a natural curiosity in the manner in which he tackled new types of problems and would regularly challenge his own reasoning ability in finding solutions. He graduated from Charles O. Dickerson Highschool in 2013. He enjoyed some courses more than others and developed favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was Forensics. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Mr.Cestaro.

      As James knew in other aspects of his life, he had a clear vision of what he sought in a relationship and worked hard to achieve it. Krista was a significant part of his life, and it wasn’t necessary for James to be overly sentimental or expressive about it for others to be aware of their mutual devotion. James's secret to success was that he always kept the lines of communication open in the marriage and applied the important skill of being a good listener. Family and children were important to James, even if he didn’t always show it. James and Krista were blessed with one child on the way, Jamie Avery-Grace Johnston.

      At work James was viewed as a natural leader. He could marshal all of the available resources, including personnel and materials, in order to meet virtually any objective. He was great at developing strategies and made maximum progress with little wasted effort. James was also adept at uncovering new and more efficient ways of getting things done. He was able to establish and meet objectives and schedules through long range planning and was always able to keep the big picture clearly in sight. Although James might have been described by some as an overachiever, he was without question a dedicated and diligent employee. His primary occupation was Explosive Ordanance Diposal. He was employed for the U. S. Army for 6 years.

      James was an EOD Tech for the U. S. Army. He was an EOD Tech at JBLM, Washington from 2014-2017; South Korea for 2018; Fort Hood,Texas February 2019; and Afganistan March 2019 - June 25,2019. Through his dedication and hard work, he achieved the rank of Sergeant. He received several awards including Combat Action Badge, SR. EOD, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation, Army Achievment, Army Good Conduct, National Defense, Afgahnistan Campaign, Global War on Terror, Korean Defense, Army Service, and the Overseas Ribbon. James's fellow soldiers knew that he worked well within the system, understanding the importance of rules and striving to follow them. James's life approach was all about order.

      Not only did James find pleasure in pursuing his various hobbies, he also enjoyed the discovery and research involved in learning about them. His skill at problem solving had a positive influence on these activities as well. His favorite pursuits were working on cars, shooting and collecting guns.

      No matter what the activity was, James had the ability to motivate others. This talent influenced his participation in sports, too. He sought out the possibilities in a competitive situation, and he stayed cool and calm under pressure. He relished the stimulation of the action and energy associated with sports. In high school, James played football, track, and karate. Recreational sports included shooting.

      Traveling, especially vacations, was another way for James to apply his exceptional leadership and organizational skills. He liked exploring different places but also enjoyed designing and scheduling the trips in advance. He had real talent for developing the perfect itineraries. Favorite vacations included sisters, Oregon and visiting "Home" in Texas.

      James was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of James's favorites was Cheyanne, a Belgian Malinois. They were best friends for 3 years. His family was rounded out by his Great Dane, Emma and three mini pigs; Princess Peeg, SweetPea and Mr. Gray.

      James passed away on June 25, 2019 at Uruzan Province, Afghanistan. Caught in a fire fight, fighting for our freedom. He is survived by his Wife Krista, un-born Daughter Jamie, Mother Meghan, Father Richard, and Siblings Courtney, Ryan, Kara, Will, and Brogan. Services were held at First Baptist Church of Killeen. James was brouth home with his wife for his final resting place.

      SGT James G. Johnston knew what he wanted from life and never hesitated in going after it. He could be characterized as a driven individual, someone who understood the importance of achievement. James was decisive and outspoken at times but was also positive and upbeat about most things. He was a leader, both intentionally and sometimes by default. If he saw that something needed to be done, he was always ready to step up and actualize, organize and implement a plan.