JOSEPH T. JOHNSON, LTJG, USN
Joseph Johnson '67
Lucky Bag
From the 1967 Lucky Bag:
JOSEPH THOMAS JOHNSON
Mount Carmel, Illinois
"Digger" came to Navy right after high school after spending the earlier years of his life in Mount Carmel, Illinois. Academics took a lot of his time, as they never come easy, and he had to make up for a bad start plebe year. Joe's athletic talent was varied as he was always looking for a new sport to try his hand at. He was a member of the plebe fencing team and quite a variety of intramural teams ranging from lacrosse to crew. Not to be limited to athletics, Joe could always be depended upon for a game of bridge, his only real downfall. Joe's love of the outdoors, lead him to strive for a career in the Marine Corps, but his desire to succeed and his enthusiasm for life promise to make him a valuable asset to the Naval Service no matter what branch of the service he decides upon.
JOSEPH THOMAS JOHNSON
Mount Carmel, Illinois
"Digger" came to Navy right after high school after spending the earlier years of his life in Mount Carmel, Illinois. Academics took a lot of his time, as they never come easy, and he had to make up for a bad start plebe year. Joe's athletic talent was varied as he was always looking for a new sport to try his hand at. He was a member of the plebe fencing team and quite a variety of intramural teams ranging from lacrosse to crew. Not to be limited to athletics, Joe could always be depended upon for a game of bridge, his only real downfall. Joe's love of the outdoors, lead him to strive for a career in the Marine Corps, but his desire to succeed and his enthusiasm for life promise to make him a valuable asset to the Naval Service no matter what branch of the service he decides upon.
Loss
From the April 1969 issue of Shipmate:
Lt.(jg) Joseph T. Johnson, USN, died 29 Jan. as a result of an aircraft accident near the Naval Air Station at Whiting Field, Milton, Fla. Services were held at the Arlington National Cemetery Chapel, with interment in Arlington National Cemetery.
Lt. (jg) Johnson was born in Princeton, Ind., and was graduated from the Naval Academy with the class of 1967. A member of the Twenty-first Company at the Academy, he participated in fencing, lacrosse and crew. He had basic air training at Pensacola, Fla., followed by duty with Training Squadron One at Saufley Field and with Training Squadron Three at Whiting Field. He completed advanced training with Training Squadron 27 at Corpus Christi, Tex., and received his wings in October 1968. Lt.(jg) returned to VT-3 as a formation flight instructor.
Survivors include his widow Shirley of Milton, Fl., and his parents Mr. and Mrs. Hal R. Johnson of Mt. Carmel, Il.
Aviation trainee Ens. William C. Denison, Jr., of Seattle, WA, was also killed in the crash.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
He graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 1963: FLC; FTA; Actprocons (Club for drama and speech with his father pictured behind him); Sibylline Staff; Class Play (played George Gibbs in Our Town); Football; Track. Voted: Most Amorous.
Joseph married Shirley Rosen of Norfolk, VA the day after graduating in the chapel of the Academy. Ens. Sheldon C. Arey of Silver Spring, Md., was best man. Groomsmen were Ensigns Thomas W. Southworth of Memphis, Tenn., Ernest W. Moldenhauer of Washington, D.C., Bob R. Patton of Ft. Wayne, IN, Gary E. Wright of Lincoln, NE, and 2nd LTs Ronald J. Cornetta of Plainfield, NJ and Alan A. Kettner of Springfield, MN.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Remembrances
From the Class of 1967's 50th Reunion Yearbook, courtesy of William Belden '67:
LT (jg) Joe Johnson died in an aircraft accident on 29 Jan 69 returning to NAS Whiting Field in Milton, FL after a routine formation training flight while attached to VT-3. He received his wings in October 68 and was assigned, along with classmates Howie Johnston (21), Bob Crockett (34), Ken Barausky (13) and Rick Cazenave (16) to Whiting as a flight instructor. Joe was a Naval Academy graduate with the class of 1967 and a member of the 21st company.
Photographs
From the April 1969 issue of Shipmate
From his high school yearbook
From his high school yearbook
Joe and his dad, Hal, in the Actprocons Club
Related Articles
Robert Bossert '67 was in 21st Company as a 3/c; if the companies didn't shuffle then he was with Joseph.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
