Military families come in many shapes and sizes, and all members of the family serve in their own ways, at home or abroad. For some, that service involves keeping the home front running while their service member is deployed or working, for others, it includes taking an oath and putting the uniform on themselves. That is exactly how the family of Steve Johnson chose to serve.

Army Sgt. 1^st Class Steven Johnson (retired) started his career in the active-duty army, serving from 1971-1973.

“The draft lottery was on when I turned 18,” he said. “My lottery number was low, and I would have been drafted and I only wanted to do two years of service. The army had just come out with a two-year enlistment program, so I took it.”

After he finished his obligation, Steven decided to leave the military, although not for long.

“I missed the military and in 1984 I decided to join the guard part time,” he said.

Steven would go on to serve in the Minnesota Army National Guard from 1984 – 2004, retiring as a recruiting and retention noncommissioned officer. He was inducted into the Minnesota National Guard Court of Honor in 2016.

Of Steven’s four children, Sarah, Leah, Ben, and Luke, three went on to enlist into the military.

A history of service

Army 1^st Sgt. Sarah Johnson- Vanderwal enlisted into the Minnesota National Guard in 1996 at the age of 17 as a health care specialist. Currently, she is serving as the medical detachment first sergeant and the fulltime staff noncommissioned officer in charge for her unit. Her husband who also serves is currently deployed with the 34^th Infantry Division in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

Army Sgt. 1^st Class Ben Johnson (retired) served in the active-duty Army from 2005 – 2022 and worked in multiple areas and capacities including as an infantryman, a sniper team leader and squad leader, a drill sergeant at Fort Moore, Georgia, a sniper section leader and platoon sergeant, and as a military science instructor at the University of Wisconsin Lacrosse until his retirement. He deployed from 2007-2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and in 2010-2011 for Operation New Dawn. His wife also serves, Ben said, and transitioned from the active-duty Army to the Minnesota National Guard in September of 2023.

Army Staff Sgt. Luke Johnson enlisted into the Minnesota National Guard in 2007, and currently serves as a truck driver and squad leader in the distribution platoon of Foxtrot Company, 134^th Brigade Support Battalion. He deployed from 2009-2010 to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Choosing to serve

Sarah enlisted to earn college benefits, she said, and her recruiter was none other than her father Steve, whom she ended up deploying with.

“He recruited me and then we deployed together in 2003-2004,” she said. “We deployed to Kosovo together on separate bases. I went to his base for about three weeks for additional training, so we got to spend time together. He was the keynote speaker at my basic noncommissioned officer course phase one graduation.”

Her reason for staying in the military, Sarah said, is service to her country and the experiences she has had in the military, including her deployment with her father to Kosovo and providing mentorship to the next generation of service members.

“I love taking care of Soldiers and enjoy the lifestyle,” she said.

For Ben, his decision to enlist was influenced by the military culture of his family and the families he grew up with.

“I grew up surrounded by the Minnesota Army National Guard,” he said. “My Dad served 26 years and most of my friends growing up had a parent who served. From a young age, I always wanted to be a Soldier. Every Halloween my friends and I went as Soldiers wearing our parents BDUs (Battle Dress Uniform). My best friend and I decided to join in 2005 after one of our friends with the 34^th Infantry Division was wounded in Iraq. We both went Active Duty.”

He decided to make the military a long-term career, Ben said, because of everything the Army offered him.

“I stayed in because I found a home in the Army,” he said. “I admired the camaraderie and the challenges the Army presented me. I would say, when I became a leader, is when I decided I wanted to make the Army a career. I valued mentoring and coaching Soldiers to accomplishing their goals.”

For Luke, serving his state and nation was also a decision that was impacted by his loved ones, and the experiences he has had while in uniform are what keep him going.

“I would say that my family was the biggest influence on me enlisting,” Luke said. “I think the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met and worked with over the years have been what kept me in.”

Serving like their father

Serving like her father and being a part of a family with a history of service is something that makes her proud, Sarah said.

“I am very proud to be a ‘Serving Johnson,’” she said. “He truly had a very challenging work/life balance, but I did not feel it when I was younger. I am so proud to be a Johnson. I am so proud of my father, brothers and husband. They Minnesota National Guard has been an amazing organization not be a part of. My daughter who will maybe assess when she finishes physician’s assistant school stated ‘I am so happy and blessed to be raised by a military family.”

Watching his father and sister serve was inspiring, Ben said, and their example taught him what a noncommissioned officer should be.

“I looked up to them as leaders and always asked them for advice while navigating my own leadership challenges throughout my career,” he said. “It was truly an honor to call myself a noncommissioned officer alongside my dad and sister. Being a part of a family with a history of military service is an honor. The Army has always been a part of our family’s culture. For us, it is a family business. As a family, we have always taken pride in our serve to our nation and for me, it was about being a part of something bigger than myself.”

For Luke, his memories of wanting to be a Soldier like his father are what led him to serve.

“As young kids my brother and I always ‘played Army,’” he said. “As we got older, we both outgrew that phase but eventually we both came back around to wanting to serve as young adults. Growing up I was always, and still am, extremely proud of my dad for his service in the Army. So being able to serve In my own way has been a great experience.”

Following his father’s example means a lot to him, Luke said.

“I believe it strengthens the bond between us as we have all shared similar experiences even if the times were different,” he said. “I am very grateful for that because they understand things that only someone who served would understand.”

Memories that last

 Despite his busy career, Steve was always there for his children, Sarah said.

“My dad was super busy when we were young,” she said. “However, he was always at our sporting events. He is the best ‘Papa (to his grandchildren).” He always welcomes our families to come and visit.”

An illustration of her father’s commitment to the family is a time that he stepped up to support her and her husband who also serves, she said.

“I would say my favorite adult memory was when my husband was going to pre-mobilization and annual training and I was activated during the first civil unrest,” she said. “My daughter, Alexandra, could not stay at home, she followed my husband to Little Falls and my dad drove down to have my daughter follow him up to Park Rapids. They had the best time visiting, doing homework and fishing.”

Some of his favorite memories, Ben said, involved seeing his father come home in his uniform.

“I always admired the fac that my dad was a Soldier,” he said. “I have found memories of attending his unit’s family days and camp trips.”

Now, as an adult, he has a new favorite memory.

“In adulthood, my favorite memory of my dad would be seeing him hold his only grandson for the first time,” he said.  “I was deployed to Iraq and was able to make it home for the birth of my son for two weeks and had to go back.”

His favorite childhood memories with his father, Luke said, included visiting his father at work at the armory, making popcorn for movie nights, selling sweet corn during the summer, and going fishing with him, and spending time with him and the rest of the family.

“As I’ve gotten older, we still get to go fishing and out on the lake at his house,” he said. “I have enjoyed learning to cook and grill from my dad as I’ve gotten older and also really enjoy the times that the whole family is together at his house for a weekend.”

To his children, Steven is a hardworking, genuine, loving, generous, charismatic person who is compassionate towards others. He taught his children everything they needed to know, Ben said.

“He taught us solid values and morals to be successful in life,” he said. “He has a larger-than-life personality and always took care of us and his Soldiers.”

As an adult, Sarah looks back at her childhood and wonders how her father managed to do it all, she said.

“I will say I cannot believe how he took care of his four children while still recruiting and having a difficult mission,” she said. “He was also very involved in his community.”

What it means to be a father and parent

For Sarah, who has five children, Alexandra, 21, Carissa, 22, Hailey, 21, Hannah, 18, and Cadyn, 16, being a parent means guiding them.

“Being a parent to me means raising and molding my children and helping them to become successful and good human beings,” she said.

Ben, who has a 13-year-old son named Hunter, said that being a father is the best thing in life.

“Watching my son slowing becoming a man has been an amazing experience to date,” he said. “Fatherhood to me is being present and fostering a positive environment for him to thrive. I believe my leadership experience as taught me to be a better father. It’s taught me patience and how to be a positive role model.”

Luke, who has a five-year-old daughter named Hadley, also enjoys watching his own child grow and learn.

“Raising my daughter with my wife has meant everything to me,” he said. “It is very exciting and rewarding to watch her grow every day.”

Story by Sgt. 1^st Class Sirrina Martinez
Minnesota National Guard