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<p><em>William Gene Johnson </em>was born and raised in Torrance, CA to a retired Army test pilot and a former Army nurse. He had two brothers.</p>
<p>Mirroring his father’s love for aviation, Bill became an accomplished pilot while still in high school. He mentioned that he learned to fly before he got his driver’s license! Living in a “beach” town, Bill was an excellent swimmer and accomplished body surfer. He loved California and all it has to offer. After graduating from Torrance High School, his appointment to West Point was natural.</p>
<p>Bill was somewhat of a “tough guy,” but was exceptionally loyal to his friends. He was a dedicated student and loved learning new things. He stated he would have loved to take every course the Academy offered, if that would have been an option. He was also dedicated to physical fitness. In his “off” time, you could often find Bill taking advantage of the facilities at the Arvin Gym. His main stay was the free weight room, but he would use the Nautilus room in a time crunch. He also swam laps in the intramural pool and could be found playing a pick-up game of basketball. Not wanting to miss a workout, Bill was one of the few in his company who utilized the universal weight machine room in the barracks basement. He was dedicated to physical fitness, and his preferred beverage at USMA was always milk. He loved any “contact” sport.</p>
<p>His thirst for learning extended to extracurricular activities. He would have loved to participate in more of the extracurricular activities the Academy presented; unfortunately, time constraints prevented him. He started out following his previous aviation passion by participating in the Aero-Astro Club; but, as time went on, he gravitated to other activities. After his experiences at Camp Buckner, he joined the Mountaineering Club and could often be found climbing both rocks and buildings near the barracks. He often took “camping leave” and hiked, climbed, and fished on the vast reservation. He also took many extended hikes on the Appalachian Trail in the area, both on and off the reservation. In summer, he did hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail. In the winter, he took up skiing, taking advantage of the instruction available at the Victor Constant Ski Area on Academy grounds. Spreading his wings, he skied many areas in New York, New England and even Canada in his firstie year. He also summer skied in Washington during summer break. </p>
<p>With his family living on the West Coast, he didn’t always venture home for longer holidays. Bill would take his love for travel as far as he could. He was known to travel to Dover or McGuire Air Force Base and see if he could snag a “hop” to somewhere he’d never been. He was also an impressive host, sharing his native California with his close friends. Whether it was exploring forests, rivers, mountains, or the beach, Bill was in his element. He also traveled extensively in the Southern states while at Jump School. He was working on a goal of visiting all 50 states.</p>
<p>Bill was a scholar of the markets. He joined the Finance Forum cow year and became a student of fundamental analysis, often presenting his work to the group. Bill branched Field Artillery and thoroughly enjoyed his time at Fort Sill, OK with classmate friends and their families. This was a steppingstone to learning to enjoy life outside the constraints of USMA.</p>
<p>After his basic course, Bill was assigned to 1st Battalion, 80th Field Artillery Regiment in West Germany. As expected, he excelled. He was loved by his soldiers, peers, and seniors alike! His peers regaled Bill’s exploits and his immersion in the local population. Bill took German at the Academy and became a favorite of the local community. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, he became one of the first casualties of the Class of 1977. Bill was mortally wounded in a training accident and ultimately transported to the Landstuhl Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. His memorial service was “standing room only,” with guests from throughout his Kaserne, classmates from within Germany, and members of the local population.</p>
<p>“Be Thou at Peace.”</p>
<p><em>— A-4 Brothers</em></p>
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