Press Releases

Today Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) released the following statement after visiting Coronado High School to honor fallen soldiers and Coronado graduates Petty Officer Third Class Mark Russell Cannon and Specialist Geoffrey Golden Johnson as part of the West Texas Warrior initiative. This was Congressman Arrington’s third visit in a series of public ceremonies to honor post-9/11 fallen heroes from District 19. “I was profoundly honored to be at Coronado High School today to honor the lives and families of Coronado graduates Petty Officer Third Class Mark Russell Cannon and Specialist Geoffrey Golden Johnson,” said Arrington. “Mark and Geoffrey demonstrated in deed what Scripture teaches us about true love: ‘there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ Because of their service and, ultimately, their sacrifice, we live in a safe and free country today. “It is my hope that through the West Texas Warrior initiative, we can create a culture of honor and respect among our youth for those who serve in uniform by recognizing the fallen heroes of our region like Mark and Geoffrey at high schools throughout District 19. BACKGROUND: Petty Officer Third Class Mark Russell Cannon was born and raised in Lubbock Texas. He graduated from Coronado High School in 1994. After receiving nursing training at South Plains College, he was employed at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock for six years. He decided to enlist in the United States Navy in 2003. In 2007, during a firefight in the Korengal Valley, Kunar Province, Afghanistan, Mark rushed to the aid of a Marine who had been shot. While treating his team member’s wounds and also returning fire to the enemy, he saved that man's life, but lost his own. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal with Valor for his heroism. Specialist Geoffrey Golden Johnson was born in Utah, and his family moved to Lubbock in 1985. He graduated from Coronado High School just four years after Mark in 1998. He also received nursing training at South Plains College and worked at University Medical Center in Lubbock. Soon after being deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in 2007 with the United States Army, Geoffrey passed away from complications following emergency surgery for a heart attack in 2008. He was a decorated servicemember receiving the Bronze Star Medal (posthumous), the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.