Franklyn A. Johnson Papers

Franklyn Arthur Johnson was born in Rochester, New York on November 2, 1921 . Franklyn's parents were Robert B. (a major in the U.S. military) and Olyve E. Johnson. At twelve years old, Johnson was made Kentucky Colonel and was the youngest person to hold such a title until the same honor was given to the American actress Shirley Temple. In preparation for his college career, Johnson attended Riverside Military Academy where he was the editor of the yearbook and valedictorian of his graduating class. Subsequently, Johnson began his collegiate career toward a B.A. degree at Rutgers University in the fall of 1940. While attending Rutgers, Franklyn Johnson was the business manager of the Targum newspaper, editor-in-chief of the Scarlet Letter, senior manager of the debate team, drum major and assistant director to the band, and a member of the varsity track team. Also while at Rutgers, Johnson held the position of president in Crown and Scroll honor society, Philosphean honorary, Tau Kappa Alpha honorary, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Zeta Psi social fraternity in addition to being a member of Cap and Skull honor society, Skabbard and Blade military honor society, and Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society.

On May 3, 1942, Johnson enlisted with the Rutgers ROTC as a second lieutenant. After completing basic training, infantry school, and the company commander's course, Johnson was sent overseas to England on September 14, 1942. On December 10, Franklyn Johnson was deployed with the 1st Infantry Division to Oran, Algeria. Johnson was later made an antitank officer with the 18th Infantry, 1st Division for campaigns in Tunisia and Sicily. After returning to England in November of 1943, Johnson landed with the first wave of Allied troops on Omaha Beach in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Although weathering the initial invasion unscathed, Franklyn Johnson was later wounded behind enemy lines and captured on June 25, 1944. Initially reported missing in action and, later, killed in action, Johnson remained captive at the Stalag 221 prisoner of war camp in Northern France from June 28th until he managed to escape on August 5, 1944. After his escape, Johnson remained hospitalized in France, England, and the United States through June 1945 and eventually retired as a captain on August 21, 1945 due to physical disability. By the end of his service Johnson was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with one OLC (Oak Leaf Cluster), a Purple Heart with two OLCs, the French Croix de Guerre, the British Africa Star, a Distinguished Unit Citation, and an ETO (Eastern Theater Offensive) Ribbon with an Assault Arrowhead and five Campaign Stars.

Shortly after his recovery, Johnson married Emily Bernetta Lingle in 1945 and completed his degree at Rutgers in 1947. In 1949, Johnson published his first book, One More Hill, an account of his experience in combat and his peers in the Big Red One (the 1st Infantry Division). After his time at Rutgers, Johnson attended Harvard University where he received his M.A. in 1949 and his PhD in political science and international affairs in 1952. Between 1951 and 1952, Johnson also attended the University of London. In the following years, Johnson worked as Assistant Professor of Political Economics in the Department of Politics at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and worked for the U.S. government in the C.I.A. for two years. Roughly between 1958 and 1963, Johnson was the active President of Jacksonville University until he was appointed President of California State College in Los Angeles later that year.