Daniel Devereaux Johnston Sr.

As a boy in depression – era Dallas, Dan sported a Spanky McFarland haircut and roller-skated to his job at the A&P, his trusty mutt ‘Tim’ trotting behind. At 15, he viewed the bodies of Bonnie & Clyde on display in Dallas after their demise in May, 1934.

Dan attended Highland Park High School and Southern Methodist University, where he was a proud member of Alpha Tau Omega. Soon after graduation, the Pearl Harbor Attacks added lightning to the gathering clouds of World War, and he joined the US Navy in April of 1942. After indoctrination at Notre Dame University, he attended Midshipman School on the U.S.S. Prairie State, receiving intense amphibious warfare training.

Dan served on the U.S.S. Algorab (AKA. 8) from September, 1942 to November 1943, and the U.S.S. Zaurak (AKA. 117) from November 1943 until January 1946. He attained the rank of Lt. Commander, and was Executive Officer, Navigating Officer, Gunnery Officer and Landing Boat Officer on both ships.

On the Algorab, Dan participated in numerous amphibious assaults in the North African campaign, honing skills that would help keep him and our Troops alive in the vicious South Pacific assaults to come. On the Zaurak, Dan helped deliver Troops and ordinance to Guadalcanal, Saipan, Okinawa, Guam, Leyte, Iwo Jima, The Philippines and numerous other battle zones.

The Zaurak survived countless attacks from kamikaze and ‘Betty’ torpedo bombers, and downed many enemy planes. Although the Zaurak received one Battle Star, and Dan received the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and numerous campaign ribbons, he always thought the real Heroes were the Soldiers that he dropped on the beach. As Landing Boat Officer, Dan commanded a group of LST’s, and made many trips through the surf, often at night, with some of the greatest Heroes in American history, in their finest hour, including Elements of the 147th Infantry and the 3rd Marine Division at Iwo Jima in March 1945. He rarely spoke of these actions. The depth of American character he witnessed in these men, in the face of very high casualties, was something he felt he could never fully describe or convey; you just had to be there.

After the war, Dan returned to Dallas and married the love of his life, Nora Jo Tussy. They soon had a daughter, Deanna, and later a son, Dan Jr. Dan was a salesman for Friden, the ‘Cadillac of calculators’. About 1959 he was brought to Raleigh to open and manage a new office. By the Mid ‘60’s, Dan and his sales Team were like the ‘Rat Pack’, combining business success with a whole lot of fun. Their parties and poker games remain legend.

Dan had been a boat nut since his childhood, and about this time the bug bit again. He acquired a beautiful wooden Chris-Craft Cruiser, ‘Lucaya’. She was kept at Morehead City Yacht Basin, and became a weekend retreat for Dan and his family, and occasionally members of ‘The Rat Pack’. These were idyllic times, socializing with Marina neighbors Friday night, cruising and fishing Saturdays with Saturday evenings anchored in Cape Lookout Bight, surely Dan’s favorite place.

In the ‘70’s, electronic calculators phased out the old Friden Mechanicals, and Dan started a new career with his son. At the urging of their neighbor, NCDMV Director Gonzalie Rivers, they entered into Contract Vehicle Registration with the NC Division of Motor Vehicles. Although slow at first, Dan and his son enjoyed working together and the License Agency enabled them to meet a great variety of people in the Community. In 1980 they opened the North Hills License Agency, and after many years, moved to their current Holly Park location. Dan enjoyed working at the License Agency and made many cherished friends among his Customers, Car Dealers, Fleet Administrators and Supervisors at NCDMV. A favorite was David London of Leith, Inc. who became a great friend, and “was actually older than Dan”. Dan’s best friends were his wartime/lifetime buddy, Bob Keedick, ‘Rat Packer’ and hunting/fishing buddy Jim Stamey and his son and business partner of nearly 40 years, Dan Jr.

As he grew older, Dan & Nora still enjoyed occasional boating weekends at Kerr Lake or Beaufort and Dan remained a steadfast worker, driver and Father and caring husband almost until his passing. Dan Johnston was a great son, sailor, husband, father, businessman and friend with an easy-going demeanor, a depression-era work ethic and a delicious sense of humor.

For his family and friends, this is surely a page that we all hate to turn. Dan had a long rich life, and his warmth and wit will endure in our hearts. Dan is survived by his wife Nora, Daughter, Deanna and Son-In-Law, Cliff Clark, his Son Dan Jr., and Daughter-in-Law Susan Johnston, Grandchildren, Kevin, Matthew and Fran Clark, Morgan Lee Johnston, Great Grandchildren, Gail & Spencer.

A Memorial will be held Thursday, September 2nd at Brown-Wynne, 1701 E. Millbrook Rd. at 6:00 pm. A celebration of his life will immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607. The Holly Park License Agency will be closed Thursday, Sept. 2nd in Dan’s Honor, with normal hours resuming Friday.

The Family wishes to thank the great folks at Sunrise at North Hills and Wake County Hospice, with special thanks’ to his skilled and loving Physician, Dr. Anant Soni.