Pocono News Section

Fallen Marine's Family Shares Memories with Eyewitness News

Fallen Marine's Family Shares Memories with Eyewitness News - Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 6:30PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Sunday, Feb 21, 2010 @ 06:30pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- The family of a fallen Marine says the military will bring his body back to his hometown of Scranton within the next day or two.

Lance Corporal Larry Johnson was killed in Afghanistan on Thursday exactly four months after he started service in Operation Enduring Freedom.

His family gathered to comfort each other Sunday. They also shared their memories in this exclusive interview with Eyewitness News.

Lance Corporal Larry Johnson's mother Johanna showed us photos of her son, a son she'll never see again. "I just wish somebody would just pinch me - wake me up and just tell me it's not true. But it's not gonna happen that way," she said.

Larry was killed in Afghanistan. His family said an Improvised Explosive Device, or I. E.D., took his life. He was only 19-years old. His father said, "We're so glad he's at peace right now. We love him and miss him so much."

Larry's father, Larry Senior, said he will always wear his son's dog tag. "He's our American hero," he said.

Larry grew up a rambunctious kid. And for a while his family worried about his future. "Larry was headed down the wrong road - he graduated from High School he did say to me 'ma I'm gonna go to the Marines and better my life," said Johanna.

And that's exactly what he did. "My son was changed for the better tremendously," added Larry Senior.

He was excited to serve his country and fight the war on terror. "I'm just very, very proud of him," said his sister Ashley Johnson.

His family told us they'll miss Larry's smile. And the way he loved animals. His sister said he wanted to be a veterinarian. "Like he had a pet squirrel once - like any kind of animal he could just show love," she said.

He was looking forward to a leave in the spring, when they would boat on Lake Wallenpaupack. ÒI just miss him so much I just wish I could have spent more time with him," said Ashley.

While they have no more time with Larry, they hope his sacrifice will allow others to have safe and peaceful times with their families. "He was a great kid. He was very well loved. He did a lot to serve his country," added Johanna.

The Johnson family expects to have a funeral service by the end of this week. They tell us they welcome the public to attend.