United States Army Vietnam veteran Michael J. Johnson was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on November 11, 2019 at the Veterans Memorial located north of Great Bend. Johnson enlisted and was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for basic training on September 30, 1968. After completion of basic training, he completed advanced training, NCO, at Fort Sill, Okla. Johnson served in the northern part of South Vietnam as section chief, buck sergeant. He attained the rank of sergeant and was entrusted with $14 million of equipment at the age of 19 in 1969. The quilt top was made by Judy Burnette, quilting by group leader Amy Schartz Mellor.