Donald L Johnson

August 3, 1931 - August 17, 2025

Donald Lee Johnson passed away August 17, 2025.  He was 94 years old.  He was born to Bertha & Frank Johnson August 3, 1931. He graduated from the Meas school.  He was working in his father's sawmill when he got his draft notice. He went into the Navy for 4 years. After Boot Camp, the Navy sent him to Diesel Mechanic School, then overseas into SeaAir Rescue attached to the Air Force.  When he made 2nd Class Petty Officer, he was transferred to a amphibious attack suppport ship. This ship was the only ship of it's type in the WesPac at the time.  We put the last troops onto the 38th Parallel in Korea. Then recovered the dead, and transported them to Japan. Then we went and assisted the French in the Vietnam war.  We transported war refugees from Hanoi down to Saigon. Our food resupply got screwed up, so we ate rice for 11 months. Didn't like rice after that! Then we got caught in a typhoon for 13 days. We lost most of our M boats and cracked the hull in 3 places. We limped into Japan for quick repairs then back to San Diego for major repairs. He got discharged as a 1st Class Petty Officer with Good Conduct, Korea & Vietnam service. This was by his own hand.

Services will be at 1pm, October 18, 2025 at Memorial Gardens in Grand Junction.

Don's family would like to thank the staff of HopeWest & Palitive Care for how they all treated him and the laughter they brought into his life the last few months.