WILLIAM FRANKLIN JOHNSTON SR.

 
WILLIAM FRANKLIN JOHNSTON, SR.  Colonel, USA (Ret.)  
May 11, 1920 - July 20, 2011  Bill was the loving husband of Elizabeth Walker Johnston, M.D.; loving father of Bill, Jr. and John and their families, brother of Ed, Ruth and Helen. Bill's military career spanned over thirty years, beginning May 1942. He served in General George S. Patton's Third Army, Yankee Division, 104th Infantry, surviving the Battle of the Bulge and 210 continuous days of combat. In 1947, Bill Sr. became Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of Michigan. There he met Betty, a medical student; they were married June 3, 1949. Bill, Jr. and John were born in 1951 and 1953 respectively. Bill's Pentagon career involved overseas tours in Okinawa (1958-1961) as Executive Officer for PSYOPS, and Vietnam (1966-1967) as Head of Army PSYOPS. Beginning in 1967 Bill was attached to the State Department, National Interdepartmental Seminar, Foreign Affairs Institute. He also taught at the National War College and Army War College. Retiring officially July 31, 1972, Bill devoted an extra year to getting the POW's out of Vietnam. Bill spent his retirement frequently babysitting his grandsons and helping Betty run her psychoanalytic private practice out of their home until her death December 2, 1997.Bill devoted great love and care to his family, his wife's family and friends, and was always ready to lend a helping hand. He is our Hero and will be greatly missed. Donations may be made in his name to Mount Joy Church of the Brethren, 494 E. Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666. Memorial service, Friday, December 16, 11 a.m. at Fort Myer Old Post Chapel.