FORT MILL, S.C. — A former New York Police Department officer who retired to Fort Mill will be laid to rest Saturday.
Paul Johnson is another victim of 9/11 almost 17 years later. He responded to the terror attacks to search for survivors.
On Sunday, at the age of 60, Johnson died of pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease that’s afflicted thousands who breathed in all that toxic air at ground zero.
“They talk about a thin blue line. Paul's was really thick. If he knew you, you were his friend,” James Gilliland, with the North Lindenhurst Fire Department, said.
With their hats, badges and uniforms, firefighters and police officers flew into town from New York Friday to say goodbye to their beloved friend.
"Paul was a tremendous individual, a very courageous individual," Steve Hayden with the New York Police Department said.
Hayden, Johnson’s partner at NYPD, said the images of that day, among the smoke, dusk and chaos, have lasted all these years.
"Your mind is screaming at you to turn around and go the other way, but you press forward because that's you job and your duty,” Hayden said.
Johnson spent 16 hours a day, for months, in what first responders called the pile. He blew out both knees in the rubble.
"He was there on top of the pile on 9/11 looking for people, for survivors, and that's what he was all about,” Hayden said.
Johnson was diagnosed with the lung disease eight years ago.
"A lot of guys that were on the pile are years later coming down with different types of cancers, different kinds of illnesses,” Harry Stolberg, with the North Lindenhurst Fire Department, said.
Johnson died fighting his illness, but never doubted what he did for his city and his country.
“He said to me ‘I would have done it again in a heartbeat. I have no regrets at all.' And that's the type of guy Paul was,” John Legutko, with the North Lindenhurst Fire Department, said.
So many people are expected to come pay their respects, that Johnson’s family is holding three different visitations.
He’ll be buried Saturday as his wife, children and grandchildren are supported by his much larger family.
"It's an awesome, awesome feeling to see all the support,” Johnson's son, Frank Kennedy, said.
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