Pocono News Section

Principal, Teacher Remember Fallen Marine

Principal, Teacher Remember Fallen Marine - Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 6:05PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Saturday, Feb 20, 2010 @ 06:05pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - The body of a Pennsylvania Patriot from Scranton who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan is back on U. S. soil.

The body of 19-year-old Lance Corporal Larry Johnson was flown into Dover, Delaware Saturday. He died Thursday in Hemland Province while supporting combat operations as part of the recent surge in Afghanistan.

Johnson graduated from Scranton High School in 2008. Earlier this week his mother brought a photo of him in his Marine uniform to the school. Prinicpal Eric Schaeffer said, "She was very proud of her son..."His goal was always to be a Marine."

Just a few days after he first saw the photo, Schaeffer learned Johnson was killed. He said, "Anytime a young kid loses his life it's sad. Especially when they have so much potential and they're planning to do whatever they wanted to do for the rest of their life. It's sad."

Schaeffer was Assistant Principal while Larry attended the school He recalled, "Whenever I saw him walking down the hallway I can always remember a smile on his face."

Jenny Brotherton also remembers that smile. She was Larry's English teacher. She remembered, "Larry was always full of energy. Larry was fun loving. Nice kid."

Faculty told Eyewitness News reports of Larry's death made the War on Terror feel a lot closer to home. Schaeffer explained, "I think a lot of times kids don't think about the war - a lot of things that are going on - until it touches their lives here."

Larry's younger brother attends the high school now. Brotherton said, "I feel so sorry for his family and friends. It's a painful thing and it was very honorable of him to do that."

Scranton High School has counselors available for anyone who needs to talk about the death.

The Department of Defense reports that Johnson was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.