Commander
Leonard C. Johnson,
Supervisor of our Northeastern District retired January 31,
1955, by reason of having reached the statutory age of retirement.
Commander Johnson was born January 5, 1895, in Tewksbury, Massachusetts,
and received his education at Mt. Hermon Preparatory and Syracuse
University, graduating in 1924 with the degree of Bachelor of
Science in Civil Engineering. On May 26, 1925, he entered on
duty in this Bureau and after a short orientation course in
the Washington Office was assigned to sea duty aboard the Ship
SURVEYOR in Southeast Alaska. During his long career of more
than 30 years he also served in Alaska aboard the Ships EXPLORER,
DISCOVERER, and as Commanding Officer of the Ships PATHFINDER
and PATTON engaged on hydrographic surveys. He also served on
the Ship LYDONIA operating along the Atlantic Coast, and as
Commanding Officer of the Ships WAINWRIGHT and HILGARD conducting
wire-drag surveys along the coast of Maine, and Commanding Officer
of the Ship SOSBEE working in the Gulf of Mexico. He also had
a tour of duty in the Philippine Islands aboard the Ships FATHOMER
and old PATHFINDER engaged on combined- operations surveys.
His office assignments included duty in the Washington Office,
Western and Northwestern District Offices and as Supervisor,
Northeastern District, his last assignment.
During World War I he served with the United States Navy for
more than 2 years, which included overseas duty.
Commander Johnson is a member of Harmony Lodge, A.F. & A.M.,
Valley Lodge, I.O.O.F., Sigma Phi Epsilon, Tau Delta Sigma,
and American Congress on Surveying and Mapping.
Commander Leonard C. Johnson, NOAA (retired), died on April
10, 1979. He was born on January 5, 1895, in Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
After over 2 years of service in the U.S. Navy during World
War I, he attended Syracuse University and was awarded a Bachelor
of Science Degree in Civil Engineering in 1924.
He was appointed a Deck Officer on May 26, 1925, and commissioned
as Ensign in the Coast and Geodetic Survey on May 7, 1926. During
his long career, Commander Johnson had many assignments in geodetic
and hydrographic surveying along the coasts of the continental
United States and in the Philippine Islands and Alaska. He served
as the Commanding Officer of the WAINWRIGHT, HILGARD, SOSBEE,
and PATTON. Immediately prior to his retirement on February
1, 1955, he served as supervisor of the northeastern district,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Commander Johnson leaves his wife, Frances Wilkie Johnson of
Oakland, California, a daughter Thora also of Oakland, and a
son Leonard of Berkeley, California.
THE BUZZARD, 2/11/1955
NOAA CORPS BULLETIN, 4/1/1979
