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"We are here to honor our hero, who perished in a helicopter accident," said David DeLeon of the Patriot Guard Riders.

Johnson and four other soldiers died April 19 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, when their Black Hawk crashed due to bad weather during a night flight. It was his first deployment.

The cause of the crash is still being investigated.

Johnson's family did not want to comment on the tragedy, but dozens of postings on Facebook described the man he was.

"I grew up three houses down from Nick and his family. Great guy from a great family, and a true American hero. You will be missed, brother!" wrote Allen, Johnson's former classmate.

Johnson graduated from Chino High School in San Bernadino County in 2002. He lived in San Diego between 2003 and 2008.

"Nick Johnson was one of my best friends, I think of him like a brother. A true leader. One of the best men I've ever known," wrote Mark Armenta.