Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – For Joe Johnson of Wade, there’s no place like home.
“Dorothy from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ said it best,” he smiled. “It is always good to be home.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
JOE JOHNSON, a sonar technician, second class, E-5 with the U.S. Army, unfurls an American flag on the back of his father’s motorcycle Friday at the Northern Maine Regional Airport. Johnson, who is home for two weeks following his second tour of Iraq, was escorted to his home in Wade by members of the Patriot Guard Riders.
“Seeing the people that came to the airport to welcome me home and show their support is really overwhelming,” said Johnson. “It really touches a deep part inside your heart.”
The son of Jimmy and Deborah LeClair, Johnson, a sonar technician, second class, E-5, recently completed his second tour of Iraq and returned to Aroostook County last Friday.
“I actually got back Monday to my base in Virginia,” said Johnson, “and flew into Presque Isle today.”
Johnson has spent a combined 18 months in Iraq during his two tours.
“Each tour is for nine months,” he said. “My job was pretty much detainee operations. When the Army picks up bad guys and they are pretty much waiting for a court appearance, we make sure that they don’t kill each other. They’re prisoners at that moment until they’ve either been deemed releasable or non-releasable.”
Born in Limestone, Johnson said his time in Iraq has been challenging.
“It’s an extremely tough job,” he said, “and it takes a mentally tough person; you cannot go in there thinking that it’s a cake walk or you’re going to summer camp. It’s hot and miserable. I’ve seen temperatures as high as 136 degrees. The wind itself is hot … you actually want to go outside when it’s not windy.”
With fall temperatures upon us, Johnson said he likes the cold.
“I’m a Mainer,” he said. “I was built for the cold.”
Johnson will be home for two weeks before returning to Virginia.
“In all likeliness, there probably will be a third tour someday down the road,” he said. “However, they can’t touch me for a year, so it will at least be that long before I would have to go over again.”
Johnson’s parents are happy to have their son home.
“We’re extremely excited,” said Jimmy LeClair. “We’re very proud of him, and glad he made it through two tours. We’re very glad to have him back.”
Members of the Patriot Guard, American Legion, Pine State Motorcycle Club and local HOG Club were on hand to welcome Johnson home. More than 20 motorcycles, many of them carrying American flags, followed Johnson to his home in Wade.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
DEBORAH LeCLAIR of Wade hugs her son, Joe Johnson, who arrived in Aroostook County last Friday following his second tour of Iraq.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
JIMMY LeCLAIR, left, shares a word with his son, Joe Johnson, who returned home last Friday following his second tour of Iraq. Johnson’s mother, Deborah LeClair, chauffeured her son to their home in Wade, while members of the Patriot Guard Riders followed behind.
