The Billy Johnson Community Hero for the first week of February, 2012 is Captain John McMahan of the Kentucky State Police, who is the current Post Commander of Post 9 in Pikeville. Many people know Capexistt. McMahan, and know he is in his 19th year in the State Police. However, many people have no idea he just returned from serving a year in Iraq as a member of the National Guard. Capt. McMahan says spending a year in Iraq and seeing the living conditions there made him appreciate things that we take for granted. "You hear people talk about it, but when you go over there you see a lot of poverty. It is heartbreaking actually to see the children over there with no shoes on. They're literally wearing rags around. And, running water is just impossible...they don't have it over there. All the luxuries we take for granted like power, plumbing and a good place to live...just don't exist," explained Capt. McMahan.
Even though he knew he was taking the chance of never coming home, Capt. McMahan knew he had valuable experience to offer to his country. "I had a unique perspective because of my age and because of my experience in policing. I'm an MP in the military world. I felt I could bring something to the table that your average kid coming out of college as a Leutenant could not bring. That's why I felt like it was a calling. I felt like I could be used better by doing that."
Captain John McMahan's courage and heartfelt desire to serve his country is witnessed by everyone who knows him. And, he says it was very hard to explain to his family that he was doing what he truly feels that he was called to do. "That's what it was...a calling. And that is hard to explain to your family. They are looking at you and saying, 'Wow. You're over 40 years old now. You waited a long time to do this.' I had to explain it to my wife and children. I sat them down before I left and said that this was something I felt I had to do."
Congratulations Captain John McMahan, the Billy Johnson Community Hero for the first week of February, 2012.
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