Wayne Archer "Johnny" Johnson, tribute by Mel Behnen
Thank you very much Shorty (Estabrook) and Wes (Morrison) for your notification of Wayne “Johnnie” Johnson passing and his interment tomorrow (June 9, 2011)...may he rest in Peace.
Bernice and I are snowbirds from Minnesota and have wintered in Sun City, AZ since 1994 because of Bernice's congestive heart failure. Her heart specialist recommended that she get out of the Minnesota cold...Brrrrrr!!!
I had heard of and seen the Readers Digest article feathering the list of POW's who died in Johnnie's POW Camp, which he brought back in a tooth paste tube.
On Feb 4th, 2000, in a large downtown Phoenix Church, the South Korean Government sponsored a group of South Korean College Students who were touring the United States to present a large 50th Anniversary Gold color Freedom Medal, hung on a red, white and blue ribbon lanyard. The front of the medal has the United States and South Korean Flag.
This medal was being presented to Veteran’s who had served in Korea during the war; there must have been over 500 veterans and their wives or significant others there.
We were seated near the rear when along came a lone gentleman who stepped over Bernice and sat next to me. I extended my hand and introduced myself and I thought he said his name was Johnnie Johnson??
I told him that we were snowbirds from sunny Minnesota. He said he was formerly from Ohio but now lived in Scottsdale.
I wondered: “Could this be “The Johnnie Johnson I heard and read about?”
I asked and he replied, very humbly: "Yes."
I couldn't believe that we were seated next to one of the many great hero's of the Korean War, but Johnnie said, "The hero's are those who didn't come back."
After the ceremony, we exchanged addresses and phone numbers, and over the next few years, while he lived in Scottsdale and we wintered in Sun City, we met a number of times at pool halls for a game and lunch. He was almost as good as Minnesota Fats,,,I couldn't hold a "CUE" to him....
On Feb 22, 2001, Irv Lewandowski, Gerry Sandin, Don Erickson, their wives and Bernice and I (all Minnesota Korean War Vets wintering in the Phoenix area) met Johnnie for lunch and a couple hours of comradery. Irv and Carol had met Johnnie at a POW Reunion in Minneapolis in 1994 where Irv was a Host Register and spoke of his meeting Johnnie to one of our Minnesota Korean War Veterans Chapter 1 meetings soon thereafter.
Even after Johnnie left AZ for Mississippi and finally to Texas, we continued to exchange Christmas cards and notes.
Johnnie Will Not Be Forgotten here!
Sincerely
Mel Behnen, 24th Div, Co A 3rd Engrs Combat Bat , Platoon Sgt. Left the combat area on Dec 26 and sailed out of Inchon Harbor on Dec 31, 1951. mbbehnen[at]juno.com