Family of slain US soldier La David Johnson speaks out

The mother and sister of the late Sergeant La David Johnson, who was killed in an ambush in Niger, speaks to CNN's Alisyn Camerota about the circumstances surrounding his death.

[@danielvu2572]

Sergeant La David Johnson, Thank you for your service and the ultimate sacrifice. May you always be by God side.

[@FrodeBergetonNilsen]

They lost a father, a husband, a son, and a brother. These are good loving people, that only ask for an honest and true answer. If these people ain't good enough for you, no one is.

[@humanonearth1]

Two damn strong women. This admin is starting to make me rage. It's completely negligent and out of control. People, we better show up and vote these clowns out!

[@humanonearth1]

Bla Bla you new boy? The Internet's primary function is talking shit

[@humanonearth1]

Bla Bla also wtf do you call voting? Dumb shit

[@jonnyquest7988]

I can feel your pain I'm sorry mam

[@phdcravenmoorehead5039]

Jonny Quest hit spellcheck shill .

[@puyihsieh127]

Very gracious family ❤️ god bless!

[@kimberleymorris8052]

I have that picture of his wife crying over his coffin in my head his two children looking on: how are they coping??? God bless you LaDavid

[@RealityChick77]

I hope and pray that this family finds answers and some semblance of peace. I thank sgt.johnson and all brave souls that lost their lives fighting for us. Doesn’t matter your politics, all service people deserve the utmost respect

[@AlwaysLoveOthers]

Wow this is truly terrible. Makes me so angry. This family deserves justice. This is hard to watch this family in pain :'(

[@itzyzaza1806]

May God bless this family. LaDavid deserves to have the truth be told about what happened to him.

[@jonhrambro8241]

when she said he honored the army and they should have honored him DAMN that made me brake down in tears that was deep

[@mylittledogshoppesouthpark1350]

Her pain is so hard to see.

[@amberagain3487]

Lovely family. Very sad. They've been through a lot...several stories. Is that normal?

[@TheBeanie2k]

sad... thoughts and prayers with the family.... and hope other families won't have to go thru this in the future...

[@fiestyblktina1237]

why and how did he get separated from the other soilders who were killed? why did it take so long to find his remains? why were villiagers still finding body parts of him after he was brought home

[@lordoffrog2354]

vrnc M what do u mean gave away their position

[@pearliemack8867]

God bless this family.

[@lleuadtrawst9365]

May God bless this family. May LaDavid Johnson forever be blessed. May the military honour this brave soldier by ONLY TELLING THE TRUTH.

[@t.edwards7935]

This is so hard to watch..😢

[@iketinknocker5033]

Heart goes out to the family. Let's give it until the end of the investigation at the end of January

[@lakeytreamaxwell-fields6747]

Sgt La'David T. Johnson... You will always be my CHAMPION... I LOVE YOU BROTHER...WITH MY WHOLE HEART!!!! I PROMISE YOU'LL ALWAYS BE MY BROTHER NO MATTER WHAT!!! YOU LIVE IN ME!!!💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕#DBLSALUTESIR #LIGHTMYLIFE

[@Nexus-ub4hs]

My heart goes out to La David’s family, I have some personal understanding of this, and I hurt for them. It’s very disrespectful of the pentagon to release information before informing the family, to tell so many different opposing stories. For myself, you imagine every moment that they may have gone through and it haunts you, you imagine the absolute worse. Even if the truth is horrific, at least you feel you honor your loved one for knowing their last days, weeks, moments...no sham, then you can grieve. But that was my experience.

[@jackiejordan427]

beautiful family rite there, I wish y’all the very best, Sorry for your loss!!!

[@gwen3010]

Why did deny the wife her right to see her husband's body? Something isn't right with the entire picture.

[@iJustB58]

Mary7 because they never actually retrieved the body. He was dismembered

[@lordoffrog2354]

BoostedLude well they retrieved his remains

[@bmwpov5747]

He was not dismembered he was shot in the head

[@lindsm2363]

Feel so bad for your family god bless them

[@notfromthisworld535]

Empathy is lacking in humanity. When we stop caring about those who are suffering..or mock the pains of others is when we become desensitized.

[@xxnike0629xx]

It's very sad when a parent has to lose their child in anyway. It's ridiculous that this family has no closure.It's a total shame and uncalled for. This family deserves to know. At the least, I'd hope that Trump could do 1 thing right and tell this family what happened; the truth. Even if it's off camera and told in private, this family deserves to know or else they'll never be able to truly move on.

[@NothingButTheTruth2.0]

You would think that the pentagon would have used common sense and maybe got this one right, just because of the publicity. Get it right so this family can have closure

[@michaelroberts3495]

Thanks to your son for his service. men go with the knowledge that they may not come back alive or whole. Unfortunately in war shit happens and we are not in the loop of what exactly happens minute by minute.

[@johnson1463]

Sounds like they left him behind? That is why they are lying!

[@goodgulf13]

They didn't bother to go get him because he was black. It is easier on the generals to say that he was already dead. Not captured and being tortured.

[@macadon041]

goodgulf13 I agree

[@everythingviral972]

Idiot, they were fighting side by side with African forces. Seriously, please think before you say such stupid shit.

[@adriennesaffer351]

So sad ,her son ,was a beautiful young man.

[@timbrown8235]

R.I..P. my battle

[@Astoldbykeesh]

I swear I hate this for Ladavid and the family. My son was in the military and honestly I’m glad he is out. So much shady shit went on while my son was there. I was relieved when he left and didn’t reenlist.

[@joeblaze7796]

They never bring the fathers on to speak when it's a black family. Why?

[@catomeowgarius4399]

lol

[@ChutheeOriginal]

Was that Actually his autopsy? Was that actually his body in the casket since his WIDOW WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SEE HER HUSBAND'S BODY? GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY AND ALL WHO HAS GIVEN THEIR LIFE!!

[@AUBURN-yb5hz]

imagine she watches the video

[@klowther247]

Very sadly I still have concerns as to whether he returned or is mia. Too many conflicting theories....

[@klowther247]

I think you'll find enough medical background on military records to forge an autopsy.

[@jhonathanmarquez9987]

He probably returned but not in one piece

[@lordoffrog2354]

Jhonathan Marquez sadly

[@OGhistorian]

He was the last man alive. Must have been scary

[@Laracroft19986]

Wow! This lady is a hero!

[@fosterreid8661]

Respect champion

[@youaremyjoy2]

Why now?

[@Jeanne90275]

I'm so sorry for their loss, but getting accurate intel from there is difficult, if not impossible. If the enemy had his gps and claimed to have taken him prisoner, what the army said initially wasn't a lie. They were on an intel mission, and it sounds like someone in the village where they got provisions gave them up to the enemy. Special Forces is like a brotherhood; if there had been any chance of saving a fellow comrade, they would have done so. Put the blame where it belongs...on the radical Islamic terrorists in the region.

[@R4mbe]

rule number one of being in a military family dont read social media for your sources, talk directly to the proper officials, if they can't tell you it's because its classified, and they will eventually let you know, thousands have died this way and not gotten this amount of attention. I hurt for her but she keeps saying she read this or read that.

[@greasemonkey3915]

You dont have a security clearance!!

[@Random_Things1001]

Rip

[@traceyramsay9333]

i am so sorry for your family I know it hurts but you must have him exhumed to find the truth how he died they just lie trump is the name lies are his game ????????

[@fnikitathomas]

This family deserves justice, but in the hands of Trump, all they'll get is another twitter attack.

[@fnikitathomas]

some body No pato, justice as in a good reason why he died, which if you had ever served in the military you'd understand implicitly. But I don't expect much from someone whose ideas of soldiering involves Lego's.

[@catomeowgarius4399]

So i guess Obama has thousands of dead people on his hands? Mister. "Im gonna pull our troops out, but not really im gonna send more"

[@user-jp4tl9zd8n]

I'm a cousin of La David Johnson and I was pissed off 🤬😤💓💔📴🖤💀🦴💀 at Trump the way he talked to his wife and family members including me Lynn Deatherage and my sister Dori Peterson who husband who died two years ago. I would've been on that phone 🤳📱. We both were upset with this outbursts of Trump disgusting man and he was a very nasty derogatory remarks about how he died.

[@510joo4]

I had once expressed an interest in joining the US forces. In response I was told, “A black man has no business fighting the white man’s war.” Since then I have never given it a second thought.

[@icetigerflamegame]

you wouldn't make selection anyway

[@510joo4]

icetigerflamegame I’m ok with that

[@catomeowgarius4399]

They try not to have racists in the military anyways. You wouldn't fit in, brother man. I forgot, Only white people died in the twin towers. All white males.

[@garthstewart6099]

42 vs 50 should have been an even fight, but most ran and left that poor Johnson boy to die.

[@juancarlosaceves1919]

Oh no

[@InitialFailure]

"kNowINg dA ProcEdureS". You mean you know a line of the warrior ethos that you likely can't recite? There's hundreds to thousands of OPS happening day to day, every day. The Army is a machine, parts break and sometimes no one knows why it works and at other times doesn't. Ain't no one got time to keep communications with this family and launch a full investigation like CSI Army as things unravel. This belief that the military has this unreasonable burden for every single service member is ridiculous. "As a veteran" the sister should know this. I've lost friends in firefights and to this day, we aren't 100% sure what happened. They died feet from me, not thousands of miles away. This family recieved extraordinary support likely due to demographic politics and yet they behave like the service did them crazy dirty. Wasn't he posthumously awarded an honorary Green Beret? Call me cold, call me callus, call me whatever but don't call me fake: in war, things happens.

[@Random_Things1001]

The village gave him up

[@Sonyag1]

This is absolutely heartbreaking. The only thing they want is the truth, but it seemed from day one that the Trump administration wants to sweep this under the rug so that Trump doesn't look as inept as he is.

[@goodgulf13]

Watch CNN now. You won't be allowed to for long.

[@moongoddess238]

But you knew this before he even got in the line of duty

[@waqarghulam3548]

I feel very sad for his family, but I don't honestly see the mourning and pain in their behavior. Seems they want cash for his death.

[@cowanda123]

Waqar Ghulam i will never ask for money,i lost my baby and all you can talk about is money,i want my son back 😥😥😥 forget some money,i will pay out my pocket to just see my baby smile again 😪😪

[@waqarghulam3548]

Cowanda Johnson again I am very sad and sorry for your loss but in this video it is very apparent that you are not mourning like a loving mother would. I am sorry but that is how you feel. May be in America that's how people mourn. I don't know.

[@Astoldbykeesh]

I know this comment is 4 years old but I’m just seeing about this story. Please don’t put a face or act on grief. As a mother this is hard and watching her discuss it you can tell she is trying her hardest to keep her composure.

[@lynndeatherage4874]

Thank God you saw wanted me to get a good feeling of your life is going on with you and you were on the plane also wow I didn't see you at all on the plane were you sat on the plane. How are you my cousin and I miss you. I moved to ames lake apts in st.paul minn and this 10yrs is a little black kid is calling me a mental case by lies by ex tenant who was at 1610 Charles st. She lied to everyone about what is going on a few different reasons for the past couple years and the fact that she called me and my friend when we both were slipping on icy sidewalks and happen in 2 areas of Ramsey Co and lie to crisis management dept we were attempted suicide that wasn't the truthful thing never happened we slipped an fell.

[@ritchyhonore6179]

Their english sounds really weird.

[@catomeowgarius4399]

Its cause their black.

[@hayaglamazonluxe]

They are from a certain part of Florida. It is an accent, it is not weird. You sound ignorant.

[@georgeward4672]

damn shamn

[@andyrooculberson2621]

If anyone other than Donald won the election, he might still be alive today.....

[@edmondpecotjr.8888]

it's prolly trumps bullshit...

[@brothernick7221]

Paid for drama coached by a news actor who organizes these scripted drama shows.

[@lindaporter1149]

Set up

[@igotalife787]

I blame Obama’s Katrina

[@serec2311]

worst than benghazi

[@ndrthrdr1]

Trump's Commander in Chief. Trump is to blame.

[@phdcravenmoorehead5039]

Ghenghy a treasure trove of asshats!

[@beepbeepbaby4799]

😵*TaLk About FISHY*!!🐳🐬🐠 🐳🐬🐠🐟🐬🐠

[@avail1.]

P.S. at this time of the year we are reminded that a Saviour of all* humanity was born. And he grew up became a "man". A military man of at least 20 yr." lifer" Pilate; looked at Jesus and said "behold the* man"! Jesus gave words of life, he healed, he enjoyed most people, child, and old ones alike. Jesus was nailed to 2 pieces of wood, and bled out; took care of his momma, and best friend John, even died for the Pharisee's. Because it say 2Cor.5:15 Christ died for every* one....you can finish it. The King was raised from the dead by God Gal.1:1 his loving Father. And it will mean more later on when the Resurrection of the "unjust" - Acts 24:14-16 begins. John 5:28/ Daniel 12:3 *all who are* in the graves will hear his voice and come forth...the multitude that sleep*in the dust of the earth *shall awake....No one tells God "Oh no, not this one or that one ! No one tells God anything He has said; will not happen - Isaiah 55:11/Eph.1:10*,11 God bless all of my neighbors World over, as we remember the birth of a Saviour - Luke 2:10/ 1:31-33.

[@BERNARDO712]

Sooooo many *trump failures* So many.

[@iketinknocker5033]

Bernardo Brito Zero to do with Trump

[@johnjeffries2094]

Bernardo Brito Because no soldiers died under obama. You people are so pathetic lol

[@thec00lgamer79]

Bernardo Brito not nearly as much as Obama dude.

[@myultimateform2797]

john jeffries libtards seems to forget about Benghazi.

[@deaundrejohnson487]

Name one

[@lionitist]

Ironic, cnn could care less about police and military but if it helps take down one of the greatest presidents they’ll try it

[@lionitist]

Roger Wilco “fake comment” !? They’re anti military anti police and pro criminal attitude is all over the internet. Educate yourself on it

[@kimberleymorris8052]

Greatest president???? You mental

[@lionitist]

THE NEW WAVE IS COMING go to school boy

[@lionitist]

THE NEW WAVE IS COMING weak son

[@jsiszero]

Her hair is as real as CNN

[@Captain-Cosmo]

Still doing that "fake news" stuff? It's so 2016. Sad there's nothing more original available for you. Spell the following word: L A M E

[@kimberleymorris8052]

Sad fucker

[@t.edwards7935]

Stupid ass

[@mrsjones6797]

Buck Futter why is that relevant? Are you an uneducated hillbilly? Thats the only type of people this would probably be relevant to.

[@DyingBreed8]

Happened like this before. What a surprise. What makes this worthy of coverage to CNN is their skin color though. CNN is like that.

[@DyingBreed8]

ndrthrdr1 you first

[@chantesprings]

Yea you should end it 04mzwach

[@cali2468]

04mzwach Poor attempt at trolling. 1/10. Keep your day job.

[@DyingBreed8]

Roger Wilco I'd guess Benghazi but surely there's probably more I missed.

[@DyingBreed8]

MOST H8D Trolling? What makes you think I'm trolling? Aren't you aware of the media's love of racial tension?

[@devinphillips8085]

She only want money and attention

[@cowanda123]

smeary sword did i ask you for money are on the other hand did you see me ask anyone for anything but the truth

[@cowanda123]

smeary sword please if you don’t know me,don’t post nothing about me,because money never been a issue for me,happiness and my baby smile means more to me then some money

[@cypressrage8823]

Black privilege

[@charmerkiki84]

CypressRage when the zombie apocalypse comes

[@captainamerica3074]

Get all your fake news from CNN.🦄💩

[@bobleroy1924]

Captain America you be fake Go back to Russia

[@jhonathanmarquez9987]

So you mean get the real ones from faux ???? Hahaha fuck head

[@jimmyv.495]

Your 15 minutes of fame is up ladies. This is all Obamas fault

[@bobleroy1924]

Jimmy V you are so stupid. Trump has bad judgement. Why were these 4 men out gunned and out manned. Trump said we going to win How the Enemy had better guns and more men. Just like in Yemen. Trump is bad military leader

[@jimmyv.495]

Bob leroy because Obama did not give them the weapon and support they needed. Obama hated the blacks.

[@bobleroy1924]

Jimmy V blame Obama just like trump did in Yemen when got Owens killed because he used old Intel and it leaked we were coming. Again out gunned and out numbered Trump is the leader. He was even briefed before he was president. So should of fixed things before he executed the mission . He bombed Syria and missed the runway plus he told Obama many times to stay out of there

[@jimmyv.495]

Bob leroy Obama was a clueless Cabana boy. Trump defeated ISIS in 10 months. That's leadership.

[@jhonathanmarquez9987]

When we defeat isis ??? Where you get your knews from dumb shit hoooo yea faux news didn’t we just got hit twice in NY KILLING 5 guy from Argentina and the other one on a train station get your shit together before you open your shithole