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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Coast Guard Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
BMCM Will Johnson U.S. Coast Guard (Ret) (1977-2009)
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE COAST GUARD?
 I had a lot of relatives that served in many services. I truly wanted to go aviation and planned to go in the Air Force as my older brother had done. Everything is in the detail right? Well, turns out the USAF recruiter fudged on my paperwork and it was discovered just before I got sworn in. That's when I found out about it too. Anyway, that changed my mind on the USAF.
As a kid I liked to help people so I figured the Coast Guard might not be too bad. I always watched the aircraft from AS Traverse City flying around as a kid too. Another reason was to find a way to learn a good trade skill and go see some different parts of the country. Growing up in a small town all your life leaves a lot of room to explore. I also spent a lot of time on Lake Michigan in boats whenever I got the chance.
WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I chose the rating of MK as it provided a guaranteed school out of boot camp. There were no aviation schools available except long waiting lists so off I went to Cape May (Quebec 99) then MK "A" school (class 8-78). Next was shipboard duty in Main Prop for two years. Then on to a Motor Lifeboat Station in Oregon. A break in service as a fisherman and starting a family lead me back to duty. I chose BM for the next 26 years.
OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH ONE WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
 My fondest memories are spread out. It's difficult to chose just one. My forming years as a BM at Tillamook are noteworthy. That's where I earned my Cox'n, Heavy Wx Cox'n and Surfman quals. We had a strong team that earned the John B. Hayes award one year. We were might proud of that. Lots of SAR back in those days too where we stayed very busy and got very good at our jobs.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE, INCLUDING COMBAT, DESCRIBE THE PERSONAL MEMORIES WHICH HAVE IMPACTED YOU MOST?
The charter boat Rainsong capsizing at Station Yaquina Bay. Dr. Dennis Noble wrote about it in his book Lifeboat Sailors, Chapter One. That was a very intense SAR case for many of us.
OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR ANY OTHER MEMORABILIA, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH ARE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
 Officer in Charge, I believe that this is the highest achievement that an enlisted person can earn. There are many years of preparation that must take place. It takes experience, great mentoring and determination to reach this goal. Once you've reached the goal of passing your OIC review board, you know you've earned it. The final step to this process is actually becoming an OIC of a unit and completing a tour of duty successfully. This by the way is part of the full circle of effort by sharing your experience, provide great mentoring and convincing those that follow to reach the same goal.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
That's a tough one to single out one person so I'll pick the first one that comes to mind. BMCM Bob Adams. He was at Station Umpqua River when I returned to active duty as a SN in 1983. (I lost two stripes in order to come back in from being an MK2) Chief Adams helped me when I wanted to come back in from being a commercial fisherman. He hooked me up with a recruiter and in short order I was back in and signing up for BM School. Within a year he helped me get my first MLB Station in Oregon as a young BM3.
That set me up for the rest of my career. I was glad to serve under him even though it was only nine months long. He also helped me out personally as a young married man when finances were challenging and we were struggling. He gave me some money for my family's first Christmas. This was just before I headed off to BM school. He said to pay him back when I could. I did. I never forgot this deed of kindness. This was a one of many things that I learned from him as an Officer in Charge. In the fall of 2010 I had a chance to visit him and thank him again for his kindness. It was humbling.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Back around 1980-81 during salmon season on the Umpqua River bar there was a pleasure craft (PC) that needed a tow right along the new training jetty. We were on bar patrol on either the 44303, 44331 or 44373. I was the boat engineer at the time and did most of the primary line handling with the tow bit. Well, this one guy in the PC got instructions from our SN in how to take in our tow line by first pulling in the heaving line. This was the classis sash cord with painted red monkeys fist on the end (of course there was a nice lead ball in the fist). The SN makes a great toss, the guy is ready and catches it while standing between the split windshields.
It's one of those bow rider tri-hull boats if I recall correctly. We all are ready to pay out the tow line and get them away from the jetty and all the other boats. In amazement we watch this hairy bare chested dude take the heaving line, wrap it around his waist, tie some kinda knot and then brace him self with both legs planted on the deck like a quarterback ready to get the snap and both his hands braced against the corners of the splits windows and he yells back to us "OK we're ready" Buddy, what are you thinkin!!! He thinks he's ready to take the strain of the tow around his beer gut when we commence to make a lot of sudden and direct tasking to this potentially inebriated wanna be sailor. We don't care if he wants to show off to his buddies or not. They are about to connect to hard rock on the jetty if actions aren't done immediately.
It all worked out and nobody got hurt out of this little incident but we sure got a lot of laughs out of that for a long time.
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
I wanted a maritime related job if I could find one. I did thanks to guidance from the retirement seminars and the contacts that I built up over the years. As I was preparing to retire I was fortunate enough to get set up with a job operating survey vessels for the US Army Corp of Engineers. I am still operating these craft on the Columbia River and along the Oregon coast. My position title is Small Craft Operator.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Disabled American Veterans - life member, American Legion - new member. I believe in supporting our veterans. These organizations were in the communities that I have live in over the past few years. Currently the American Legion is the closest for me to participate in. We help support community efforts with scholarship money for young people and other causes that benefit youth. One of the benefits I get is the camaraderie of other veterans. We all want to keep our benefits that were promised to us and strong numbers in these organizations will help do this with representation around Washington DC.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER?
 Far too many lessons learned over the years to list them all. One of the big ones is how important clear communication skills is critical in building working relationships with others. Tolerance to accept what you cannot change. Respect of others opinions. Saying thanks to those that deserve it.
BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE COAST GUARD?
One of the biggest pieces of advice is to learn flexibility and adaptability skills. There is nothing permanent except change. You have to be able to adapt to change. Learn how to manage change. Increase your education as you develop these other skills that you need to succeed. Be a team player before you become a team leader. Take PRIDE in yourself and your unit, Be PROFESSIONAL and have FUN!
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
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| TWS and the US Coast Guard |
There are a few folks that I like to stay in contact with. I like what TWS stands for. It didn't take me very long to figure that this was going to be the best resource around where I could connect with many over the years after retirement. Thanks to Dan Peckham for hooking me up with TWS. I expect it to continue growing so I can hear from old shipmates. This is one of the few internet tools that I really care to use to connect with others.
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who served in the US Military and convey how serving their Country has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like to participate in a future edition of Voices, or know someone who might be interested, please contact TWS Voices HERE.
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For current and former serving Members of the US Coast Guard and US Coast Guard Reserve, TogetherWeServed is a unique, feature-rich resource enabling Coast Guardsmen to re-connect with lost Shipmates, share memories and tell their Coast Guard story.
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