Johnson, Earl Gene

Title

Johnson, Earl Gene

Performer

Earl Gene Johnson

Interviewer

William Vollano

Description

Gene enlisted in the Navy in 1940, at the age of 19. Living in Tennessee at the time, he was sent first to Knoxville, and then onto Norfolk, Virginia, for his basic training. He was eventually transported to Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, via an oil tanker, where he was assigned to the battleship West Virginia in September 1940. The West Virginia was hit several times during the bombing of Pearl Harbor, which led to its eventual sinking. When the opportunity arrived, Gene signed up for duty on the Lexington – however, it too was sunk in the Coral Sea, just weeks before the battle of Midway. He was transferred back to Norfolk, Virginia, where he was assigned to the Thomas Stone, a troop transport. Gene was transferred once again, this time to the North African Naval Headquarters, in Algiers. After the Germans were forced out of North Africa, his entire unit was transferred to Naples, Italy, where once again he worked for the transportation department. After his leave, he was assigned to the U.S.S. Columbus, where he served through the end of the war, until his enlistment was up in 1946. After leaving the Navy, Gene returned to Knoxville, Tennessee. His search for a better job brought him to Michigan in 1948, where he first worked for Packard. He then moved to Ypsilanti, where he worked at Kaiser-Frasier until it closed. Gene quickly got another job at Ford Motor Company’s Ypsilanti plant, where he worked for 30 years, until his retirement in 1982.

Subject

Enlisted; United States Navy; USS West Virginia (BB 48); USS Lexington (CV 2); USS Thomas Stone (AP 59 / APA 29); USS Columbus (CA 74); World War, 1939-1945; Second World War - Pacific Theater; Second World War - European Theater; Boatswain's Mate First Class

Publisher

Center for Oral History Research at Eastern Michigan University

Collection Location

2/31

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9E4I0d8-SQ&list=PL05gqqIuA4HK1S_labZh5qO9iutjJf_gO&index=3

Date

1940-1946

Dates of Service

Spatial Coverage

Second World War - Pacific Theater; Second World War - European Theater

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