Southern Route Spotlight
Johnnie “Bravo 6” Huddleston
For many who participate in Run For The Wall, they take a few weeks in May to recognize, honor, and support our Veterans. There are those who have chosen to volunteer their time and energy, and that commitment goes largely unnoticed by the majority of our riders. Allow me to introduce you to one of those volunteers, one of the key people who keeps the Southern Route organized.
Johnnie “Bravo 6” Huddleston is our Platoon Coordinator. He is responsible for placing all our riders in an appropriate platoon once they register. He also works closely with the Route Coordinator to put all Platoon Leadership in place and helps each of the Team Leads fill their approved vacancies. Johnnie’s work begins as soon as the first Volunteer Request forms are submitted…yes, he’s been on the job since June. Johnnie also works tirelessly through the 10 days of travel to ensure that new participants are added to the appropriate platoons. His responsibilities also include helping to resolve any issues that may arise within the platoons while we are traveling.
Here is a little background from Johnnie in his own words:
I did not retire from any civilian job, but I completed 36 years in the military and retired from there. During those 36 years, I was involved in a lot! I helped train thousands of soldiers who went off to war. Some of these soldiers I commanded. I helped equip them and their units. Then I served as the Battalion S-1 for the Medical Battalion that these wounded soldiers returned to at Ft. Benning, GA. I helped save a soldier who needed open-heart surgery by transferring her to my unit to ensure she would be eligible for the procedure. She called me from TX after her surgery to thank me. This is why I do the things I do!
My commander, who was an MP, suggested I consider the Military Police school, and I did. He works at the VA in Tuscaloosa, AL, and looks forward to the RFTW stopping there every year. I am still close to the soldiers I commanded. Some have died, and I am in touch with their families. I do this for them! During my FNG year, Bugs was the RC and Java Joe was my PL. Their leadership was so impressive to me, which is another reason I keep doing this! I learned about RFTW in 2018 while I was doing a PGR funeral. A lady named Vickie Meyer, who was on the Ambassador team, told me about RFTW. She answered all my questions. I linked up in Meridian, MS, and I’ve been recruiting for RFTW ever since.
Bravo 6 – Thank you for your hard work behind the scenes.
The history of Run For The Wall is founded on the service and sacrifice of our Vietnam Veterans. It is with that in mind that I want to ensure that our riders never forget their legacy. Each month I will be highlighting an MIA service member from Southeast Asia during the month they went missing. Please let me introduce you to;
James Cristof Becker, USA
MIA – 08/15/1970 – Laos
1st Lt James Christof Becker, from Texas, was a member of the US Army 71st Aviation Company, 14th Aviation Battalion, 16th Aviation Group, 23rd Infantry Division, and served as a helicopter pilot.
On August 15, 1970, a UH-1H Iroquois with a crew of four, including 1st Lt. Becker as the pilot, took off on a mission to extract a reconnaissance team in Laos. Because of the difficult terrain near the planned extraction zone, the five-member reconnaissance team climbed onto a rescue ladder lowered from the helicopter. As the aircraft rose, it was hit by enemy small arms fire and crashed. The five team members were knocked off the ladder as the helicopter descended through the trees; their fate remains unknown. Of the four crew members aboard the Iroquois, the aircraft commander and crew chief survived, returned to the extraction zone, and were rescued. Because of the location and the presence of hostile forces in the area, no attempt could be made to return for the other two crew members.
1st Lt Becker was last seen by one of the surviving crew members, upright in his seat; however, he appeared to have suffered a head wound in the crash. The two survivors could not take him with them when they left the crash site
1st Lt James Christof Becker is remembered on Panel 08W Line 113 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
Dave “Double D” Davies
Due to circumstances beyond our control, Midway Route Photos from previous runs are no longer available. 