January 18, 2011

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(Madison)—On January 8, 2011, at the Wisconsin Army National Guard Armory in Platteville, Madison lobbyist Jason Johns was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries suffered in combat action on October 26, 2003, outside of Samarra, Iraq.

“Many people have told me they are honored to know a real-life hero, said Johns, but I tell them that I am not a hero. I was just doing my job and doing what I thought was right. Everyone who has ever worn the uniform of our country in a foreign land is just as much a hero as I am. Be sure to thank them too because we are surrounded by them in all facets of our lives”.

Johns enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard during his senior year in high school in 1994. He served until his honorable discharge in August 2002. When his former unit (229^th Combat Support Engineers) was mobilized for active duty in February 2003 Johns volunteered to re-enlist and join them. “I found out on a Wednesday morning, talked to my First Sergeant that same morning,  was doing paperwork that evening, packed up everything in my apartment on Thursday, said goodbye to friends and family Thursday evening, and reported to the armory on Friday to move out to Ft. McCoy” Johns says.  The 229^th returned to the Wisconsin in April 2004 and he received his second honorable discharge in September, 2004.

Jason Shade, of Houston, TX, a longtime friend of Johns says “When Jason called me and told me what he was doing, I immediately asked him, why? He simply said “So you don’t have to bud”. That response has stuck with me to this day and really sums up the kind of person that Jason is” says Shade.

Johns, 34, is the owner and president of Wisconsin Legislative Strategies, a lobbying firm located on the Capitol Square. He resides in Oregon with his wife Carin and their 2 year old twin daughters Abby and Ellie.

“I am proud, humbled, and honored to receive the Purple Heart, although, he adds with a smile, it is the best medal you hope to never get”.