MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — --
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE,
N.C. — Sixty-two
years ago, Martin Johnson joined the Navy to see the world — and after two
years in Vietnam, he didn’t have a scratch.
“I don’t know why the good Lord
spared me,” he said. “ I got shot at a lot, but never actually got shot.”
Thinking that he had been blessed
led Johnson to help a wounded warrior by donating the car of his wife, whom
died over a year ago.
When
his wife died, Johnson was unsure if he wanted to sell the vehicle, but
ultimately decided he wanted to donate it to someone who had been wounded in
combat.
“I
figure a person who has been through combat knows things and sees things that
civilians don’t,” said Johnson, a native of Maysville. “This young man has seen
things he will never forget, and that is the kind of person I wanted the car to
go to.”
Sgt. Ivan Sears, who received the
2003 Lincoln Towncar, was wounded while deployed with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine
Regiment in Afghanistan in October 2010.
“It will definitely help us out,”
said Sears, “I’m very grateful.”
Sears has a son whose car seat will
fit in the vehicle to allow Sears to travel with him.
Sears will be having the car
outfitted with hand controls so that he can drive it.
Johnson received a certificate of
appreciation from the commanding officer of WWBN-E, Lt. Col. John Kelley.
“We are appreciative of your
donation and Sears is a great Marine,” Kelley said. “This is what this
battalion is all about.”
Sears, who competes in hand cycling
and running in the Paralympics, will be moving to San Antonio, Texas soon.
“I
wish you all of the blessings in the world,” said Johnson. “It was a great car
for my wife and has been well maintained, and I hope it will be for you too.”