Roy L. Johnson
Encyclopedia
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 and to return fire, in what became known as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident
. Admiral Johnson was the first captain of the first of the new supercarrier
s, commissioned in 1955.
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
. In May 1930, he was transferred to the battleship 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.
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
.
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.
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.
, Johnson became the Commanding Officer
of the escort carrier ; affectionately known by her crew as the "Bing Ding". She was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation
. He was the "CO" until July 1952.
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 on her commissioning day, October 1, 1955, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia
.
. 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.
, 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
.
. 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 1995. Their daughter, Jo-Anne L. Coe
, (Jo-Anne Lee Johnson, b. July 19, 1933) d. September 27, 2002, 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 Navy Day, March 20, 1999, two days after his 93rd birthday.
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
, from 1965–1967. In his previous post as Commander, United States Seventh Fleet
United States Seventh Fleet
The Seventh Fleet is the United States Navy's permanent forward projection force based in Yokosuka, Japan, with units positioned near Japan and South Korea. It is a component fleet force under the United States Pacific Fleet. At present, it is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets, with...
, he gave the orders to the and to return fire, in what became known as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, or the USS Maddox Incident, are the names given to two incidents, one fabricated, involving North Vietnam and the United States in the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin...
. Admiral Johnson was the first captain of the first of the new supercarrier
Supercarrier
Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial...
s, commissioned in 1955.
Early life and career
Born in Eunice, LouisianaEunice, Louisiana
Eunice is a city in Acadia, Evangeline and St. Landry parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 11,499 at the 2000 census.The St...
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
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
as a Midshipman on June 15, 1925. At Annapolis he played varsity baseball and was on the staff of academy yearbook, the Lucky Bag
Lucky bag
A Lucky Bag is the term for the United States Naval Academy 'year book' dedicated to the graduating classes. A traditional Lucky Bag has a collection of photos taken around the academy and photographs of each graduating officer along with a single paragraph describing the individual written by a...
. 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
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
. In May 1930, he was transferred to the battleship for duty on the Staff of Commander Battleship Divisions, Battle Fleet
Battle Fleet
The United States Battle Fleet or Battle Force was part of the organization of the United States Navy from 1922 to 1941.The General Order of 6 December 1922 organized the United States Fleet, with the Battle Fleet as the Pacific presence. This fleet comprised the main body of ships in the Navy,...
.
During 1930, he underwent preliminary flight training at the Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of several aircraft carriers of the United States Navy...
, San Diego. On January 28, 1931 he began flight training at the naval flight school at Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
, known as the "Cradle of US Naval Aviation". One year later he was designated a Naval Aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
.
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
Bureau of Aeronautics
The Bureau of Aeronautics was the U.S. Navy's material-support organization for Naval Aviation from 1921 to 1959. The bureau had "cognizance" for the design, procurement, and support of Naval aircraft and related systems...
Navy Department in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
World War II
He remained with the bureau through the early portion of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and in May 1943 he was transferred to Fleet Air Command, Naval Air Station Quonset Point
Naval Air Station Quonset Point
Naval Air Station Quonset Point was a United States Naval Base in Quonset Point, Rhode Island that was deactivated in 1974. Next to NAS Quonset Point was Camp Endicott at Davisville, home of the Naval Construction Battalions known as the Seabees. Quonset Point also gave its name to the Quonset hut,...
as Commander Carrier Air Group Two
Carrier Air Wing Two
Carrier Air Wing Two is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln .-Mission:...
. In early 1944, the Air Group joined the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
.
Johnson later became the Executive Officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
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
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
, Woleai
Woleai
Woleai is a coral atoll of twenty-two islands in the eastern Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is located approximately west-northwest of Ifalik and northeast of Eauripik...
, Wake Island
Wake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
and Truk, striking against enemy aircraft, airfields, shipping and shore installations. For his service as Air Group Commander he was awarded the Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
. Later, he received the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
and a second Legion of Merit Medal, with Combat "V"
Valor device
The Valor device is an award of the United States military which is a bronze attachment to certain medals to indicate that it was received for valor...
for his service in action which included campaigns against Japanese forces in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
and Okinawa. He also wore a Presidential Unit Citation, which was awarded to Hornet for her part in these campaigns.
Post-war
On October 3, 1945 he was assigned to the office of the Joint Chiefs of StaffJoint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
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.
Korean War
On November 15, 1951, during the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Johnson became the Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the escort carrier ; affectionately known by her crew as the "Bing Ding". She was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Unit Commendation
The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944...
. He was the "CO" until July 1952.
Post-Korean War, through mid-1950s
In July 1952, he was assigned to the National War CollegeNational War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
in Washington D.C. for a year's course in modern warfare techniques and strategies.
For two years after completing the War College
War College
A War College is a senior military academy which is normally intended for veteran military officers and whose purpose is to educate and 'train on' senior military tacticians, strategists, and leaders...
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
Prospective Commanding Officer
A Prospective Commanding Officer is a United States Submarine Officer who has been selected for the specialized training to attain his/her own command.-References:...
, (PCO) of the Navy's first "supercarrier", under construction.
Therefore, Johnson became the first Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the 60,000-ton attack aircraft carrier on her commissioning day, October 1, 1955, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
.
Flag assignments
Three months later, on January 1, 1956, he was promoted to the rank of Rear AdmiralRear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- 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
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
.
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
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
and a month later became Deputy Director of Joint Strategic Target Planning, headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation near Omaha, and lies adjacent to Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S...
, Omaha, Nebraska. On July 30, 1963, he assumed the duties of Deputy Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Admiral Johnson served as Commander United States Seventh Fleet
United States Seventh Fleet
The Seventh Fleet is the United States Navy's permanent forward projection force based in Yokosuka, Japan, with units positioned near Japan and South Korea. It is a component fleet force under the United States Pacific Fleet. At present, it is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets, with...
for eleven months (June 15, 1964 – March 1, 1965). For this service he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
.
Admiral Johnson then served as the Commander in Chief US Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
for the period March 30, 1965 – November 30, 1967.
Awards and honors
In addition to the above named medals, Admiral Johnson was also awarded the American Defense Medal with Fleet Clasp, American Campaign MedalAmerican Campaign Medal
The American Campaign Medal was a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is a service decoration of the Second World War which was awarded to any member of the United States military who served in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945 and was created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was...
, World War II Victory Medal
World War II Victory Medal
The World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of...
, United Nations Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
The United Nations Service Medal for Korea is an international military decoration which was established by the United Nations on December 12, 1950...
, Philippine Liberation Medal
Philippine Liberation Medal
The Philippine Liberation Medal is a military award of the Republic of the Philippines which was created by an order of Commonwealth Army of the Philippines Headquarters on December 20, 1944...
with two stars, and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation (Korea)
The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation is issued by the government of South Korea to both Korean military and foreign units. The last major issuance of the decoration was during the Korean War when the decoration was bestowed to several U.S., U.K., and Commonwealth military units...
.
Post-Navy career
Admiral Johnson retired from the United States Navy, in 1967 to Virginia Beach, VirginiaVirginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
. 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 1995. Their daughter, Jo-Anne L. Coe
Jo-Anne L. Coe
Jo-Anne L. Coe was the first woman to serve as Secretary of the United States Senate , appointed by Bob Dole during his term as Senate Majority Leader in 1985. After serving in this capacity, she founded and directed Senator Dole's Political Action Committee, Campaign America...
, (Jo-Anne Lee Johnson, b. July 19, 1933) d. September 27, 2002, served as the first woman Secretary of the United States Senate
Secretary of the United States Senate
The Secretary of the Senate is an elected officer of the United States Senate. The Secretary supervises an extensive array of offices and services to expedite the day-to-day operations of that body...
and as Chief of Staff to Senator Bob Dole
Bob Dole
Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
.
Admiral Roy L. Johnson, USN (Ret), died on Navy Day, March 20, 1999, two days after his 93rd birthday.