Al Johnson is having a week.
After he received a Congressional Gold Medal, the 94-year-old was greeted back to West Michigan with a hero's welcome.
The Patriot Guard riders lined Concourse B at Gerald R. Ford airport with American flags in hand. The group was waiting for Johnson to come home from Washington D.C.
"I think it's important because today's people have started to look other ways. I think it's special that we've been given the honor and the privilege to be able to do it and without the people out there doing this? They're fighting the wars," Dani Jennings, Captain of the area Patriot Guard, said.
Al Johnson was wheeled through the line of riders by his son, Jim. Once he got to the end, the first person he looked for was his wife of 70 years, Jean.
"Give me a kiss babe," he said as he leaned toward the 97-year-old.
Many of Johnson's relatives and friends also greeted him and a few flyers stopped to take the moment in.
"I didn't know I had so many friends," he said as everyone belted in laughter.
Johnson never thought he'd get this kind of treatment. The Hudsonville man was part of the Office of Strategic Services during the war, the predecessor of the CIA. Much of the information of who was in the OSS was classified until 2008.
"Well I almost broke down in tears," Johnson said as he reacted to the Patriot Guard's welcome. "The organization was secret so no one knew anything about it so they couldn't honor you in any way."
But that all changed Thursday afternoon as he clutched on to his heavy gold medal and was wheeled out of the airport. After a week of honor, recognition, and pride, there's only one thing left to do.
"Probably sleep for a week," he said.
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