Johnson serves on medical team at Bush funeral in D.C.

     CJ Johnson of Monticello typically finds himself serving as part of the federal DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team) in areas following a natural disaster such as a hurricane or earthquake. But recently, he spent about a week with DMAT in a whole new role.

     The week of Dec. 2-6, Johnson was called to serve as part of a six-member DMAT team in Washington, D.C. as President George H.W. Bush laid in state inside the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

     Johnson received word on Saturday, Dec. 1 that he would be flying out to D.C. on Sunday. He worked two 12-hour shifts inside the Capitol providing medical assistance to the throngs of people and dignitaries who came through the Capitol to pay their respects to Bush. Johnson worked from noon one day until midnight the next.

     He said when he was contacted, he immediately thought his assistance was needed in Alaska following the horrible earthquake on Nov. 30.

     “I didn’t think about what was happening in D.C.,” he said.

     In an event like this, Johnson has to notify his employer, Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Johnson is an ER nurse at Mercy.

     “Typically we’re sent to a disaster region,” said Johnson. “So when we get called, we’re already packed and should be ready to go within two hours.”

     Johnson was in D.C. from Sunday through Thursday the week of Bush’s funeral services in the nation’s Capital. He’s served DMAT since 2004.

     The six-member team in D.C. included two nurses, two doctors, and two paramedics.

     “It was a long few days,” recalled Johnson.

     Arriving on Sunday, Johnson didn’t have to report for duty until Monday. So, he spent some time seeing the sights of D.C. The last time Johnson was in D.C. was nearly 30 years ago; some things have changed since he was last there.

     “I never saw the Vietnam Memorial,” he said.

     While out and about, Johnson saw members of the U.S. Army’s Presidential Salute Battery practicing the formation for the 21-gun salute that was to be performed during the ceremony of transporting Bush’s casket from the Capitol to Washington National Cathedral.

     While on duty inside the Capitol, Johnson said they had a DMAT team staged inside just the rotunda, as well as team outside at all times.

     “We’re there as a medical team in case something medical related happens,” he said.

     Luckily, nothing crazy took place while on his watch. “It was very uneventful,” recalled Johnson, “which was good.”

     He did have plenty of time to people-watch the throngs of people who flooded in and out of the Capitol to pay their respects, though.

     “I just stood there seeing how people would act,” he said of the variety of people who came through. “You saw kids, blue-collar folks, lots of people in suits. It was interesting.”

     Johnson said there is so much tradition wrapped up in a national event such as a presidential funeral.

     “It was very quiet inside the Capitol,” he said. “But that place is full of such history.”

     Johnson said when you have so many important people in one place at one time like this, it’s always best to be prepared versus reactionary after the fact.

     “You never know what can happen,” he said. “Someone could have a heart attack or there could be an assassination attempt. There’s a disaster plan for everything, especially with that many people in one place.”

     Johnsons said a DMAT team also serves during every State of Union address with every member of Congress, the president, vice president, and Supreme Court member all under one roof at one time.

     Typically in a disaster zone, Johnson’s team works off the bare minimum when it comes to power, water, food and supplies.

     “You’re supposed to be self-sufficient,” he said.

     He said it was a totally different experience working at the Capitol with everything at their disposal.

     On Dec. 5, Johnson was on scene to watch the pomp and circumstance around transporting Bush’s casket to the church.

     “That was cool to see,” he said.

     While his team stood outside, he said there was so much going on it was as if they were experiencing a stimulation overload. The Air Force Band was performing. Members of the Armed Forces Honor Guard lined the steps of the Capitol and saluted as the casket was brought out. Johnson said there were so many helicopters in the air and snipers on rooftops all around.

     At one point, while taking it all in, he spotted President George W. Bush and the Bush extended family standing right in front of him surrounded by Secret Service.

     “There was also a pile of news cameras on flatbed trucks,” he said.

     Johnson said something like this was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime event.

     After joining DMAT in 2004, his first big assignment was to the Hurricane Katrina disaster zone in 2005.

     “After 9/11, the federal government started putting money into disaster response teams,” explained Johnson.

     In September of this year, Johnson also served in Florida following Hurricane Michael.

     He said being a part of DMAT allows him, and his fellow team members, to see things most people will never see in their lifetime.

     “It’s good to do,” said Johnson. “In a disaster, we’re the first ones in after law enforcement.”