I was surprised to hear President George Bush mention meeting with Mary "Missy" Johnson during tonight's presidential debate. I wasn't surprised by the president's reaction by meeting her.

Staff Sgt. Paul "PJ" Johnson, the first U.P. native killed in the Iraq war, was killed in action during an ambush in Fallujah last October. Johnson left a strong mark in the Upper Peninsula where he grew up.

Although I've only spent a few moments in touch with the family and friends of Paul Johnson, I was very impressed with the determination, strength and warmth they displayed in the face of losing someone so loved. This impression is supported in reporting for the articles I wrote and an article I read in The New York Times.

To provide more information about the Johnsons, here is my article The Ultimate Sacrifice about PJ Johnson's passage and the reaction.