Roy L. Johnson
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| Roy Lee Johnson | |
|---|---|
| March 18, 1906 – March 20, 1999 | |
 As commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet (second from left), aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), April 20, 1967. |
|
| Place of birth | Eunice, Louisiana |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1929–1967 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | Carrier Air Group Two USS Badoeng Strait (CVE-116) USS Forrestal (CVA-59) Carrier Division Four United States Seventh Fleet US Pacific Fleet |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Air Medal Presidential Unit Citation Navy Unit Commendation |
| Other work | Viginia Beach General Hospital US Naval Academy Alumni Association Golden Eagles |
Admiral Roy Lee Johnson (March 18, 1906 – March 20, 1999) served as Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, from 1965–1967. In his previous post as Commander, United States Seventh Fleet, he gave the orders to the USS Maddox (DD-731) and Turner Joy (DD-951) to return fire, in what became known as the Tonkin Gulf incident. Admiral Johnson was the first captain of the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) first of the new supercarrier, Forrestal-Class, commissioned in 1955.
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[edit] Early life and career
Born in Eunice, Louisiana to John Edward Johnson and the former Hetty Mae Long, Admiral Johnson was the eldest of 12 children.
He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy as a Midshipman on June 15, 1925. At Annapolis he played varsity baseball and was on the staff of academy yearbook, the Lucky Bag. He graduated from the Naval Academy on June 6, 1929 and married the former Margaret Louise Gross (November 26, 1910 – July 4, 1998), on the same day.
His first assignment as a junior officer was aboard the battleship USS Tennessee (BB-43). In May 1930, he was transferred to the battleship West Virginia (BB-48) for duty on the Staff of Commander Battleship Divisions, Battle Fleet.
During 1930, he underwent preliminary flight training at the Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego. On January 28, 1931 he began flight training at the naval flight school at Naval Air Station Pensacola, known as the "Cradle of US Naval Aviation". One year later he was designated a Naval Aviator.
In June 1940 he was ordered to Patrol Squadron Twelve and one year later on March 28, 1941 he was assigned to the Bureau of Aeronautics Navy Department in Washington, D.C.
[edit] World War II
He remained with the bureau through the early portion of World War II and in May 1943 he was transferred to Fleet Air Command, Naval Air Station Quonset Point as Commander Carrier Air Group Two. In early 1944, the Air Group joined the aircraft carrier Hornet (CV-12).
Johnson later became the Executive Officer of that ship, which would later become known as the "Grey Ghost". As Air Group Commander ("CAG"), he directed and led attacks against Japanese forces at Palau, Woleai, Wake Island and Truk, striking against enemy aircraft, airfields, shipping and shore installations. For his service as Air Group Commander he was awarded the Air Medal. Later, he received the Bronze Star and a second Legion of Merit Medal, with Combat "V" for his service in action which included campaigns against Japanese forces in the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He also wore a Presidential Unit Citation, which was awarded to Hornet for her part in these campaigns.
[edit] Post-war
On October 3, 1945 he was assigned to the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff where he served until July 1947, when he became the Aviation Operations Officer on the Staff of Commander Second Fleet in Norfolk, Virginia.
In January 1950, he was assigned as Training Officer on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Air Reserve Training at Naval Air Station Glenview, Illinois.
[edit] Korean War
On November 15, 1951, during the Korean War, Johnson became the Commanding Officer of the escort carrier Badoeng Strait (CVE-116); affectionately known by her crew as the "Bing Ding". She was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. He was the "CO" until July 1952.
[edit] Post-Korean War, through mid-1950s
In July 1952, he was assigned to the National War College in Washington D.C. for a year's course in modern warfare techniques and strategies.
For two years after completing the War College program, he served as the head of the Air Weapons System Analysis Staff and in the office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, (Air). In May 1955 he reported to Norfolk, Virginia as the Prospective Commanding Officer, PCO of the Navy's first "supercarrier", under construction.
Therefore, Johnson became the first Commanding Officer of the 60,000-ton attack aircraft carrier Forrestal (CVA-59) on her commissioning day, October 1, 1955, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia.
[edit] Flag assignments
Three months later, on January 1, 1956, he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. In June of that year, Admiral Johnson was named director of the Long Range Objectives Group, in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
In December 1958, he assumed command of Carrier Division Four and a year later, on January 25, 1960, he was named Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for Plans and Policy. On December 15, 1961, he was promoted to Vice Admiral and a month later became Deputy Director of Joint Strategic Target Planning, headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska. On July 30, 1963, he assumed the duties of Deputy Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Fleet, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Admiral Johnson served as Commander United States Seventh Fleet for eleven months (June 15, 1964 – March 1, 1965). For this service he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.
Admiral Johnson then served as the Commander in Chief US Pacific Fleet for the period March 30, 1965 – November 30, 1967.
[edit] Awards and honors
In addition to the above named medals, Admiral Johnson was slso awarded the American Defense Medal with Fleet Clasp, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars, and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.
[edit] Post-Navy career
Admiral Johnson retired from the United States Navy, in 1967 to Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was active in local civic affairs, as chairman of the board of Virginia Beach General Hospital and chairman of numerous Naval organizations, including the US Naval Academy Alumni Association and the Golden Eagles.
He and Mrs. Johnson had two children. Their son, Roy L. Johnson, Jr., b. February 25, 1939 predeceased them in 1994. Their daughter, Jo-Anne L. Coe, (Jo-Anne Lee Johnson, b. July 19, 1933) served as the first woman Secretary of the United States Senate and as Chief of Staff to Senator Bob Dole.
Admiral Roy L. Johnson, USN (Ret), died on March 20, 1999.
