Chaplain and WWII Veteran honored at Military Monument
Randal W. Johnson, left, LTC 05 Chaplain (U.S. Army) and a 1997 SWU graduate, was honored by his wife, Lisa, and their three daughters at the Southern Wesleyan University Military Monument. Johnson served an overseas tour in Iraq and an additional tour at Camp Dodge, Iowa. He also served three years at the United States Army Reserve Command (USARC), Fort Bragg, N.C. Randal and Lisa also honored Lisa’s father, Shelton H. Swaney, right, AD2/C E5 Aviation Machinist Mate (U.S. Navy) U.S. Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, during World War II.
As an Army Chaplain, LTC Randal Johnson will tell you that commanders heavily depended on their pastoral counseling skills when ministering to soldiers.
“While serving at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, I averaged seven pastoral counseling sessions a day,” said Johnson, who received his master of ministry degree from Southern Wesleyan University in 1997 and was ordained by The Wesleyan Church in 1998. “There were multiple issues going on in soldiers’ lives. They needed to talk to somebody to get release and to get therapy, whether it was spiritual or not,” said Johnson. “A lot of folks don’t see the military ministry as a ministry. I see military ministry as a mission field. Most military service members do not attend church. If chaplains do their job like they are supposed to, and do not stay in the office, they’re going to meet people who do not know Jesus and opportunities abound daily to share with them who Jesus is.”
After serving in the pulpits of Wesleyan churches in the North Carolina West, North Carolina East and South Carolina districts, Johnson became a military chaplain and went on to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Al Asad Marine Air Base, Iraq. He also served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Camp Dodge, Iowa, and three years at the United States Army Reserve Command (USARC), Fort Bragg, N.C.
Johnson praised his wife, Lisa, for the sacrifices she made with their daughters while he served in the military. “Thirteen out of my 20 years in the military were my ‘geo bachelor’ years (when a service member chooses to be separate from a spouse). For 13 years, I was separated from Lisa by choice,” Johnson said. “During that time, Lisa’s mom and dad’s health went south. Lisa and her siblings got together, and being the pastor’s wife that she is, Lisa volunteered to take care of them. There was a lot of divine intervention in all this. Lisa had the house to herself in Greensboro, N.C., so her parents moved in with her. Shortly after, I ended up with my next assignment at Fort Bragg. I asked (the Army) for permission to commute back and forth daily from Greensboro to Fort Bragg, and they said ‘Yes,’ even though it was an hour and a half drive, one way.”
A bench at the Southern Wesleyan University Military Monument was dedicated to Randal Johnson, by Lisa Johnson and their three daughters, Hillary, Kayla and Christa. Two plaques were dedicated; one for Johnson and another for his father-in-law, Shelton Hillary Swaney, who served in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Machinist Mate, U.S. Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla., during World War II. Johnson said Shelton Swaney was part of the “Greatest Generation,” a term used for those who grew up during the Great Depression and went on to serve their country in World War II.
Johnson said Swaney came from a background of not having a whole lot of money and not having finished high school. He tried to join the Army, but because of inner ear problems, the Army turned down him down. He later tried to get into the Navy and he was accepted, serving until he was discharged with an inner ear infection that resulted from a water training incident where his instructor pushed him into the water.
Johnson said that Shelton Swaney and his wife, Edith, greatly influenced his calling into Christian ministry. “Shelton Swaney was an excellent role model in The Wesleyan Church. He was always actively engaged, doing things for God and the Church. I simply cannot say enough good things about Shelton and Edith Swaney,” Johnson said.
“Shelton Swaney faithfully served the Gibsonville Brown Wesleyan Church (now known as Hope River Wesleyan Church), Gibsonville, N.C., as Sunday School superintendent for more than 32 years. Edith, taught Sunday School in various capacities. For more than 55 years, she played the organ at Brown Wesleyan Church. Both Shelton and Edith also sang in the choir for many years. They personified ‘Holiness Unto The Lord.’ They were a godly couple,” said Johnson.
Shelton passed away in 2014 at age 95 and Edith passed away in 2016 at age 90.
SWU Military Monument
Southern Wesleyan University has a history of supporting and participating in programs designed to educate the general public about its military heritage and honoring alumni, employees, and friends who have served in the military. The Military Monument exists to honor SWU Alumni and friends who have served and are serving the United States as a member of the military. The Monument is also a structure that honors the University as a supporter of National Defense Programs that maintain our freedoms as a nation.
Plaques are available to those who are connected to SWU as alumni or related to a current or previous SWU faculty member, as well as a friend or donor of SWU or an organization or person making a significant donation directly to the memorial fund.
For more information or for purchase of a plaque, contact Emily Holley, Southern Wesleyan University, Office of Development, PO Box 1020, Central, SC 29630 or by email at
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. For details about degree programs, go online to swu.edu.
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