November 8, 2006
Thanks to Kathy Poston for writing the following article about Mr. Johnson
The Attica-Williamsport Rotary Club was honored to have Mr. Bob Johnson of Warren County present the program for Veteran’s Day on Wednesday, November 8th.
Mr. Johnson, retired Warren County school superintendent, began his program by taking club members back to 1943 when he was a high school senior at the Williamsport High School. Mr. Johnson recounted how in 1943, the United States had a clear idea of who the enemy was and as a result, the whole nation was extremely patriotic and united in its support for the war. On graduation day, Mr. Johnson remembered clearly that seven of his classmates had already enlisted and were off to military duty while the rest of the men were graduating from high school. Mr. Johnson quickly stated that while the seven were already in service, the remainder of the men in his class was on their way to enlisting also. There was no idea that the young men would be doing anything other than enlisting and helping their country in this time of war.
After graduation, Mr. Johnson was off to Chicago and the Great Lakes Naval facility as he had passed his Naval Pilot’s preliminary exam. With a send-off party, a new pair of shoes and the intention of not coming back home anytime soon, Mr. Johnson was dismayed to be discharged from the naval pilot program because of a chin issue from a routine dental exam.
Mr. Johnson’s journey had just begun as he then applied and was accepted into the Army Aviation Training Program at the Jefferson Barracks in Kentucky. Twelve weeks of basic training was the beginning of many interesting experiences for young Mr. Johnson. Between cold barrack huts, close sleeping quarters and latrine issues, Mr. Johnson had quite an education of military life so far.
From basic training in Kentucky, Mr. Johnson then was transferred to a 20 week college training course in Iowa. While there, he suffered a bout with pneumonia and clocked in his first 10 hours of flying on a Taylor Craft plane. After his education in Iowa, Mr. Johnson then was sent to Santa Ana, California where in the air force, he received a very thorough and strict training. He was then assigned to King City, California where he then trained as a fighter pilot in the mountains there. He mentioned his first solo flight was off a cliff area that had a 4,000 foot drop. After a few beginning bumpy jumps on his solo flight, he figured out what he was doing and clocked in 68 hours of solo time with a two-wing Steerman plane . From the Steerman plane, he moved onto a Metal Air Craft plane and clocked in another 40/50 hours of flight training.
Reassignment time came once again for Mr. Johnson, this time in the manner of total duty reassignment to Amarillo, Texas. From flight training he was told he had the choice of becoming trained as a gunner or a plane mechanic. Mr. Johnson chose the plane mechanics program and became trained in the art of maintaining the B-29 Atomic Bomb plane. After a time in Amarillo, Texas, Mr. Johnson was transferred yet again to Mexico for an eight week program with the B-29 bombers with the intention of being sent to the Pacific Theater. Mr. Johnson was the crew chief in Mexico supervising 28 B-29 bombers. While in Mexico, Mr. Johnson and one other young man were transferred to Topeka, Kansas and would not be going to the Pacific Theater. A law had been passed that if one served in the military for 28 months before being sent overseas, you were not eligible to go. The reasoning behind this was after a certain number of months of serving in active duty; you were then eligible to be sent home. Mr. Johnson and the other service member had fulfilled that requirement making being sent overseas, a moot point.
Mr. Johnson then found himself in Missouri where he was reassigned to the Finance Office and served there until he was discharged. While there, he obtained the ranking of Corporeal for one month before being sent back to Jefferson Barracks in Kentucky to be formally discharged.
Mr. Johnson’s program was one of great interest to all the Rotary members, especially in light of our current world situation of the war in Iraq. Mr. Johnson made mention of how difficult it is today for our military men and women to be fighting a basically unknown enemy in Iraq. Mr. Johnson also made mention of the wonderful article in the local paper, The Review-Republican, about Mr. Charlie Walker’s experiences in the military and his quest to help Senator Lugar document Indiana’s veteran’s experiences. A moving quote from the article was read. Mr. Johnson made a point of saying while he didn’t serve overseas during WW2; he felt very proud to have served on the home front and mentioned the real military hero was his late brother, Richard Johnson.