Retired command information officer to speak at NSDAR meeting
Retired Lt. Col. Karen King-Johnson will present the program “Stars & Stripes Newspaper in Vietnam War Years” during the next meeting of NSDAR John Percifull Chapter at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, at West Shores Retirement Community located at 2607 Albert Pike.
The lunch at West Shores includes a salad, main course, dessert, and drink for $10. Attendees are asked to bring cash to pay for their meal to make things simple. The meeting begins with the Ritual at 11 a.m. with lunch served at noon.
King-Johnson enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 21, and in 1966, she was detached to Frankfurt, Germany, as commander of the Women’s Army Corps, according to a news release from the NSDAR. In 1968, she was assigned to the Defense Information School at Fort Benjamin Harrison in a journalist-type role.
King-Johnson received orders for Vietnam, and she underwent intense survival training prior to her tour of duty, the release said. In Vietnam, she was the command information officer, leading reporters, writing stories, photographing troops, printing internal publications to keep troops informed, and overseeing distribution of the Start & Stripes, which was published twice daily.
She was also in charge of publishing the “Uptight Magazine,” which won the Thomas Jefferson Award for outstanding military publications.
King-Johnson retired from active duty after 15 years, but she continued her service in the reserves as an advocate for veterans. In 1982, she was part of the Arkansas delegation in the Washington, D.C., parade celebrating the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial. She now resides in Hot Springs Village.
Visitors are welcome to attend. Call Frankie Ochsner, 501-525-1337, or Carol Ann Hunter, 501-520-5252, for more information.