Douglas Johnson

Dad was born on the 7th Day of December 1927 as the youngest of 3 children. He had a sister, Stella Marie and an older brother, Albert J Jr. All three children were born in Hialeah, Florida. His parents were Albert J Johnson, Sr, originally from Glen Cove, Long Island, New York and Marie Anna Dumont, originally from Canada. Douglas had gone into the Navy after WWII and did his boot camp in San Diego, California. During his time in the service he was stationed up in Kodiak, Alaska where he met his future Wife, Linda Robinson. As in most cases in the Navy, Dad was transferred back down to the West Coast for the duration of his original service and Mom's family completed their stay and moved down into Idaho. After Dad's service, he went back home to Florida, where he was until he received a telegram, recalling him back to active duty due to the Korean War. It was sometime after this that Dad made his decision to make the Navy his Career. Somehow Dad stayed in touch with Mom and went to see her and asked her to marry him. She came out on train to Norfolk, Virginia where Dad was stationed at the time and was married on 29 December 1951 in the base chapel. 17 November,1952 was the birth of their only child, Doug Jr. He was stationed down along the Panama Canal Zone Base for the next 4 yrs before being transferred back to the states. He was stationed in New Jersey for about a year and during this time he received what would be his defining career within the Navy, PersonnelMan. After making Chief and receiving his training, he was transferred to San Diego, California near the end of 1957 and joined Naval Housing in January 1958 across from the NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, SAN DIEGO.. better known to the locals as NTC. Little did we know that his remaining years in the Navy were to be spent in this one city. Over the course of his career, he taught schools, was himself, an instructor trainer, finally got his sea duty aboard two ships, USS COLUMBUS CG-12 and the USS JASON AR-8. He was recalled back to NTC in a series of new projects which he completed with distinction. His work ethic at the end of his career was the same as the beginning.. Volunteer for everything. It was this ethic that put him in good stead and directly lead to his advancement from E-6, E-7, E-8 and on to his final rate of E-9 MasterChief Personnelman. His experiences were varied and valued. He was proud of his career and finally June 30, 1978 marked the end of that career and stay in the Navy, amassing some 32 years, awards, plankowner on the Columbus, Chief Personnelman for the Jason, working in a new field of computers, and helped design course curriculums for a new relationship with the Saudis. I noted in one of his many evaluations that one if his superiors called DAD a walking beaupurse manual, which was essentially the "Bible" of the navy personnel. How fitting that his career ended in the same city where it began. His long service had come to an end but he was picked up by a civilian company and managed a stay with the State and County of San Diego for several more years until his total retirement, partially hastened to some extent by his right knee replacement. Many in the Knights of Columbus in San Diego know of my father and each have their own recollections and memories.

As to the essense of the man and his wife of some nearly 53 years, I can give these personal observations.

Dad was like most men in his era, if there was something to be done, it was done. No thanks were needed. If there was a problem, lets fix it now. I think most of us can identify with a person like that. He was not college educated until after his service where he did attain an AA, of which he was quite proud. While the lack of later education affected some paths, but through hard work and long hours, he was still able to reach the pinnacle of his profession, nonetheless. He also made sure whatever his endeavor and job, he tried to know it as well as anyone. This sometimes necessitated him to spend extra time but he put in whatever was needed. He had coached a little league team, served as umpire, coached an all girl softball team, he bowled with this fellow Knights and as with everything else, he was relentless in learning how to do it well. He must have attained some level of success as I can look around the room where I am writing this and gaze upon many many trophies. He played golf and as you can guess tried to learn that as well. His simple motto was: Do right because it IS right. Your achievements mean more when accomplished honestly and to the best of your ability.

My Mother was brought up in another frame of mind and she was an avid reader. This also I can see all around me here, books upon book upon books. She read everything she could but had a special love for Mystery. She wrote poetry throughout, wrote for her High School newpaper. She was associated with the Altar Guild Society at our local church which was also the school where their son attended. She assisted in writing plays for school functions to raise money. She was well read, knowledgeable in many areas. She had a beautiful smile that was with her til near her end, incredibly funny and we shared so many hours together talking, laughing, reading poems back and forth. She was also interested in Genealogy, long before it became a popular fad and also before we had the computer and online services. She attained this love from her father and the family before him and now has passed it down to me. Her beautiful light dimmed and she answered the call of God in September 2004 and I still miss her terribly.

Dad was preceeded in death by his parents, brother and sister and his wife and now the family is together again. He is survived by his son, Doug Jr, Grandsons, Marshall D and Michael D and one GreatGranddaughter, Calin E, who by coincidence or design, has the same birthday as my Father He will be interred amongst his fellow servicemen and women at the Fort Rosecrans Military Cemetry in San Diego, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean. He will receive his Military services, rifle volleys and Taps from a lone bugle as a tribute and honor that is rightly his and bestowed on many others who answered the call of their country and a flag will be folded for the final time and presented to his family who will miss him greatly.

I have attached a photo of the two of them together taken many years ago. I have taken this opportunity to add a bit of my mother as this was not available at the time of her passing and thought it appropriate to talk about them together. They will be missed more than I can ever put into words and with the advent of the guestbook available on this site, others can maybe add their own thoughts and memories. You are encouraged to not only leave comments of Dad but also any of my Mother as well.

Written with Love and Care by his son Doug Jr

May 28, 2012