Tara D. McClary, Public Relations Community Liaison

More than 400 MUSC physicians show their appreciation to veterans through their work at Charleston's Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

The center, named in 1991 for a young Lowcountry Marine, is the MUSC Medical Center's main source of paid resident slots and includes more than 170,000 veterans in its service area.

Ralph H. Johnson enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 18. Just months after completing basic infantry training and upon receiving a promotion to private first class, he arrived in the Republic of Vietnam serving as a Reconnaissance Scout with Company “A,” 1st Reconnaissance Battalion.

He was a Marine who loved his family of six brothers and seven sisters, his home of Charleston, and who considered his buddies’ lives worth the sacrifice of his own.

The attack came just after midnight, March 3, 1968.

Hill 146 measured 75 meters from east to west and about 50 meters north to south. The mission was supposed to be routine for the stationary combat observation post assigned to First Lieutenant Clebe McClary and his 13-man recon team. When the grenade came into the foxhole, Johnson threw himself on it, absorbing the impact to protect two fellow Marines. Posthumously, he received the United State’s highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

In 1991, Congress approved the request of McClary, Walter Fulda, and Post 3433 of the Ladson Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) chapter to have the Charleston Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center named as a tribute to Johnson’s gallantry.

Nov. 11 was set aside in 1918 after the end of World War I to thank those men and women of the armed services who are still living and whose commitment to America is expressed in their military service.

On May 30, Memorial Day, veterans like Johnson are remembered for having paid the ultimate price for America's freedom.

“There is a great working relationship between our Medical Center and the Medical University of South Carolina,” said Betty Owens in the VAMC Public Affairs Office. “What encourages me is when I see a veteran smiling broadly after a visit with his doctor because that physician not only took time to discuss his patient’s health concerns but because he took time to acknowledge his patient’s service to our country.”

H. Del Schutte, Jr., M.D., Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at MUSC and director of the joint reconstruction service at VAMC, said that caring for those who have given so much presents unique rewards and challenges. “A few extra minutes of discussion with the veterans will often reveal the most inspiring examples of courage and dedication to their country.”