Obituary of Herbert E. Johnson
LITTLE FALLS: Mr. Herbert E. Johnson, age 93, a resident of Little Falls, NY, died on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at Alpine Rehabilitation & Nursing Center.
He was born on June 10, 1924 in Young America, Minnesota, the son of the late Walter Christian and Karen Marie Johnson. Herbert attended school in Little Falls, attaining his G.E.D Diploma in 1946. He was active in sports and enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping.
Herbert entered the Army, being drafted, on February 23, 1943 and trained as a truck driver with the 472nd Quartermaster Truck Regiment (Heavy) at Camp Sutton, NC. He was deployed with them and served in the China-Burma-India Theatre of War for 2 ½ years, both as a truck driver and, later, as a warehouse foreman and a clerk-typist and office manager for the 4282 Quartermaster Depot Co. The area in which they served was considered a Forward Combat Area, for the first 18 months of the 2 ½ year period. He returned home and was discharged on January 6, 1946.
He re-enlisted in the U.S. Army on December 10, 1948 and elected to go to Germany; consequently, he was in the Occupation Zone of Germany for 3 ½ years. He was assigned to the 7707th European Command Intelligence Center, serving in various capacities; and for the last 10 ½ months of that period, he actively served and worked with and for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency in a clandestine capacity out in their field of operations in the western zone of Germany as a Security Specialist. Sergeant Johnson considered this duty with the C.I.A as being the highlight of his military career. He returned to the U.S. and was discharged at Camp Kilmer as a Staff-Sergeant.
Herbert continued his military career by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. On October 21, 1961, he was called back to active duty with the U.S. Air Force (T.A.C.), Troop Carrier Wing (Heavy) at Richards-Gabuer Air Force Base, just south of Kansas City, MO. He served in the capacity of an Air Freight Specialist, loading and unloading aircraft and processing the cargo. As this period was a time of national emergency, he was released from active duty after one year on
October 22, 1962. He returned home, but stayed in the U.S. Air Force Reserve while being employed as a Toll Collector for the NYS Thruway Authority for 21 years. The last 8 years of his military career (which was approximately 29 years) was spent with the 174th Tactical Fighter Group, NY National Guard at Hancock Field, Syracuse, NY as a Fire Fighting and Aircraft Crash Rescue Specialist. He retired from the U.S. Air Force National Guard on April 10, 1972 with the rank of Technical/Sergeant.
Herbert was a member of and attended Emmanuel Episcopal Church. He was a life member of the Air Force Association, the Air Force Sergeants’ Association, the American Legion Post #31 of Little Falls, the VFW Post 4612 of Little Falls, the Ex-C.B.I. Roundup Magazine, a family friend of the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake, NY and the Little Falls Family YMCA.
Surviving him is his lovely wife, the former Betty Jean Briggs, his true love, best friend, and companion. He is also survived by a sister, Gladys Rathbun Rice, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
In respecting Sergeant Johnson’s wishes, there will be no public visitation. A graveside Memorial Service will be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Steven A. Scarcia of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. Full military honors will be accorded. All are welcome to attend his service at Church Street Cemetery, on the Monroe Street side.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Harry J. and Kevin E. Enea of Enea Family Funeral Home, 24 W. Monroe Street, Little Falls, NY.