Anthony Johnson

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Captain Roger Hugh C. Donlon (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on July 6, 1964 near Nam Dong, Republic of Vietnam. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while defending a U.S. military installation against a fierce attack by hostile forces. Capt. Donlon was serving as the commanding officer of the U.S. Army Special Forces Detachment A-726 at Camp Nam Dong when a reinforced Viet Cong battalion suddenly launched a full-scale, predawn attack on the camp. During the violent battle that ensued, lasting 5 hours and resulting in heavy casualties on both sides, Capt. Donlon directed the defense operations in the midst of an enemy barrage of mortar shells, falling grenades, and extremely heavy gunfire. Upon the initial onslaught, he swiftly marshaled his forces and ordered the removal of the needed ammunition from a blazing building. He then dashed through a hail of small arms and exploding hand grenades to abort a breach of the main gate. En route to this position he detected an enemy demolition team of 3 in the proximity of the main gate and quickly annihilated them. Although exposed to the intense grenade attack, he then succeeded in reaching a 60mm mortar position despite sustaining a severe stomach wound as he was within 5 yards of the gun pit. When he discovered that most of the men in this gunpit were also wounded, he completely disregarded his own injury, directed their withdrawal to a location 30 meters away, and again risked his life by remaining behind and covering the movement with the utmost effectiveness. Noticing that his team sergeant was unable to evacuate the gun pit he crawled toward him and, while dragging the fallen soldier out of the gunpit, an enemy mortar exploded and inflicted a wound in Capt. Donlon's left shoulder. Although suffering from multiple wounds, he carried the abandoned 60mm mortar weapon to a new location 30 meters away where he found 3 wounded defenders. After administering first aid and encouragement to these men, he left the weapon with them, headed toward another position, and retrieved a 57mm recoilless rifle. Then with great courage and coolness under fire, he returned to the abandoned gun pit, evacuated ammunition for the 2 weapons, and while crawling and dragging the urgently needed ammunition, received a third wound on his leg by an enemy hand grenade. Despite his critical physical condition, he again crawled 175 meters to an 81mm mortar position and directed firing operations which protected the seriously threatened east sector of the camp. He then moved to an eastern 60mm mortar position and upon determining that the vicious enemy assault had weakened, crawled back to the gun pit with the 60mm mortar, set it up for defensive operations, and turned it over to 2 defenders with minor wounds. Without hesitation, he left this sheltered position, and moved from position to position around the beleaguered perimeter while hurling hand grenades at the enemy and inspiring his men to superhuman effort. As he bravely continued to move around the perimeter, a mortar shell exploded, wounding him in the face and body. As the long awaited daylight brought defeat to the enemy forces and their retreat back to the jungle leaving behind 54 of their dead, many weapons, and grenades, Capt. Donlon immediately reorganized his defenses and administered first aid to the wounded. His dynamic leadership, fortitude, and valiant efforts inspired not only the American personnel but the friendly Vietnamese defenders as well and resulted in the successful defense of the camp. Capt. Donlon's extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

Ordinary Seaman John Donnelly (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1864 on board the USS Metacomet. His citation reads:

Served on board the U.S.S. Metacomet. As a member of the boat's crew which went to the rescue of the U.S. Monitor Tecumseh when that vessel was struck by a torpedo in passing the enemy forts in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864, Donnelly braved the enemy fire which was said by the admiral to be "one of the most galling" he had ever seen and aided in rescuing from death 10 of the crew of the Tecumseh, eliciting the admiration of both friend and foe.

Private Timothy Donoghue (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on December 13, 1862 at Fredericksburg, Virginia. His citation reads:

Voluntarily carried a wounded officer off the field from between the lines; while doing this he was himself wounded.


The I’m just sayin… Know Your South Carolina Athlete

As always, thank you Wikipedia!

Our South Carolina athlete this week is former College of Charleston basketball star Anthony Johnson. Anthony Mark Johnson (born October 2, 1974) was a 6’3” point guard for the College of Charleston and later in the NBA. He was the first NBA D-League player to participate in a NBA Finals. Johnson was born in Charleston where he was a start basketball player at Stall High School. During his senior year, he helped lead the College of Charleston to an NCAA basketball tournament first round victory over the University of Maryland at the Memphis regional. Johnson finished that game with 17 points, nine assists and four rebounds.

He was the first player in College of Charleston history selected in the NBA Draft, picked by the Sacramento Kings in the late second round. In the 1997-98 season, he started 62 games, averaging 7.5 points per game. Over the next several seasons, he played with the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New Jersey Nets. On December 7, 2001, Johnson signed with the NBDL team Mobile Revelers and played there for 15 games, averaging 11.9 points per game.

In the 2003-2004 season, he was signed by the Indiana Pacers, where he had a career resurgence, averaging nearly 22 minutes per game and scoring 6.5 points per game. Prior to the 2004-2005 season, the longtime NBA journeyman earned his first long term contract, a four-year deal with the Indiana Pacers.

He drew a five-game suspension from the NBA as a result of his actions in the Pacers–Pistons brawl which broke out at The Palace of Auburn Hills near the end of a November 19, 2004 game between the two teams.

In the 2006 NBA Playoffs, Johnson scored a career-high 40 points against the New Jersey Nets in Game 6 of the series. Despite his heroics, the Pacers lost the game 96-90, and the series 4-2 to the Nets. In the 2006 off-season, Johnson was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. On February 22, 2007, Johnson was traded back to the Atlanta Hawks for his third stint with the team. On February 16, 2008 the Sacramento Kings acquired Johnson. On July 15, 2008, Johnson signed a two year contract worth $3.8 million with the Orlando Magic. It was his second stint in Orlando. In two seasons with the Magic, he played in 111 games, starting 12, and participated in the 2009 NBA Finals. His contract expired at the conclusion of the 2009-10 NBA season, making him a free agent. Johnson played 793 regular season NBA games, starting 249 of them. He averaged 2.9 assists per game and 5.6 points per game. He played in 100 playoff games, starting 11 of them. He averaged 2.2 assists per playoff game and 4.8 points per game. Perhaps his best playoff season came in 2005-2006 when he played for Indiana. He started all 6 of the playoff games he played in that season averaging 5.2 assists per game and 20 points per game.

Anthony Johnson is a great South Carolina athlete you should know.