Charles Raymond "Ray" Johnson

born in Gillette, WY; moved around to various farms in Gillette that his parents rented; removed to Recluse, WY with parents; removed to Vanport, OR with parents in August, 1942; employed at Oregonian Newspaper; removed to Camas, WA; removed to Vancouver, WA; met Harriet Stonehouse at "The Holland" while she was working as a waitress; drafted for Korean War in 1951; Served in Korea from December 28th, 1951 to August 10th, 1952; married Harriet Stonehouse June 6th, 1953 in Vancouver, WA at First United Methodist Church; removed to Baker City OR; removed to La Grande, OR; removed to Vancouver, WA 1965; removed to Hazel Dell, WA 2017

Personal Account of Life During WWII (1939-1945)

Ray Johnson

"As a young boy of 11 years old I remember the invasion of poland by Germany. My father was really upset as he said that it would be the start of another world war. This was in September of 1939."

"We lived in Wyoming on a farm. We milked about 40 head of cows. We sold the cream and fed the milk to pigs. We didn't have electricity on the farm. We did everything by hand, including the milking of the cows. We didn't have much money so we had to control the use of the battery radio. We would listen about 1 hour each day. It was always at news time. We were able to get KOA out of Denver, Colo. We lived in the back country, 65 miles from Gillette, Wyoming. We did not have a car. The Mailman who delivered mail on every Tuesday took our cream to Gillette and the train for shipment to Nebraska. He also picked up the items that we needed and delivered them to us on his return."

"Two years later on December 7, 1941 Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. I can remember the concern that my parents felt."

"My dad left for Portland, Oregon right after the first of the year in 1942. He was able to get a job at the Oregon shipyards as soon as he arrived."

"Mother and I stayed on the farm and planted the crops until August of 1942. We had a big auction and sold all of our equipment and livestock."

"We bought 4 train tickets to Portland to be with my dad. He was building Liberty Ships. The train ride left a lasting impression on me as there were a number of service men on the train."

"I got a job with an Oregonian dealer and sold paper at the Vancouver ship yards as the workers came off the shift. I got my drivers license and delivered papers to the shipyards and in the Vancouver barracks. I also delivered a paper to the German prisoners of war. The prisoners were able to work as a mechanic for extra privileges. There must have been about 200 prisoners in the compound, This compound was about where the Clark College is now."

"I went to Jefferson High School in Portland. I was the only student who was able to drive to school. I went each day to the Oregonian building to pick up papers for Vancouver. Gas ration was in effect we were able to get gas as newspapers were part of the war effort."

"I remember the excitement on June 6, 1944, when the Allied forces stormed the Normandy Beaches, the pain when the word of the cost in American Lives. The headlines when Patton was in Africa. The bombing of England. Then on May 7, 1945, the surrender of the German forces. What a load off of Americans."

"Then on the Japanese terrorism. The hard fighting on Batan, on many other islands. I remember the flag raising picture on Iwo Jima. This picture will always be in my mind. It was so important at the time. The dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan. The surrender of the Empire of Japan. The signing of the surrender on the Big Missouri."

"The town of Vancouver was bumper to bumper with cars, all over the town and shipyards. Needless to say, I sold a lot of newspapers."

"The hardest part of my job was selling papers at the Barnes Hospital as the troops came back for medical attention. This ate at my heart."

Links:

• https://obits.columbian.com/us/obituaries/columbian/name/charles-jo...
• https://www.ehfh.org/johnson-village/
• https://www.ehfh.org/2019/09/join-our-most-inspirational-event-of-t...
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uouyAyFELLE
• https://greaternw.org/news/new-subdivision-named-in-honor-of-vancou...