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“Doc” to his peers, “Terrill” as he was known to his brothers and sisters, was born on the family farm in Steinmetz, Missouri, on 31 December 1897. His schooling began in a one-room schoolhouse in which his mother taught all eight grades to most of her seven children, as well as children from neighboring farms.</div>
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The following words are extracted from a family history written by his brother, Reverend M. L. Johnson.</div>
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“Terrill ascended in the field of education from the one room school up the steps of Pritchett College until he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy. The appointment, however, was for first alternate and Terrill had no hopes of going even though he passed the examinations. The boy who was number one also passed the exams so Terrill was resigned to wait until the next time or pursue another course, education leading to becoming a medical doctor. In July 1916 a telegram came for him to report at West Point within a week's time. The other fellow had decided not to enter the Academy. This took some stirring about and Father had to borrow money for his travel and other expenses to get him settled in—but he made it! His class of 1920 graduated with only two years of residence. World War I was raging and his class was ordered out in 1918 to get into the action. Terrill was at home in Missouri in November of 1918 ready to say “goodbye” before leaving for France, when on the 11th the Armistice was signed and the war was over. I could write a chapter on the celebrations we had that day.</div>
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“Even though the war was over ‘over there,’ the Class of 1918 was ordered to France and Terrill spent a year there; I suppose to have the first lieutenants learn the art of war and how it was fought in the trenches. Having graduated among the top in his class, he was given the opportunity to choose the branch of service he wanted and he decided on the Engineers. His childhood recollections of a severe Missouri River flood and time spent ‘carrying chain' for his father's surveys, no doubt influenced his branch choice.</div>
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“After over a year in France, he was ordered to Camp Humphreys (now Fort Belvoir) near Washington, D.C., where he had more training. It was while there that he met a young lady by the name of Gertrude Cato. She loved to dance and so did Terrill. Fortunately for Terrill he found a partner who loved Army life and they were married in 1920. They travelled all over the United States, Hawaii, Japan and other countries during their Army career. Their children are Joanne, David, Jean Barry and Peter. In 1923 Terrill and Gertrude drove from Washington, DC to Missouri in their Model-T Ford. That was the time before highways. It took them more than a week to make the trip. When they arrived at the old home place, it was a joy to us all, especially for our father.</div>
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“Terrill and Gertrude settled in Alexandria, Virginia, after his retirement, and it was there in 1965 that Gertrude died after a brief illness. We were all thankful for Gertrude and the contribution she made to her family and to Terrill. She joined him in all the vicissitudes of an army officer's wife, travelling from post to post. After her death Terrill sold his home in Alexandria, and moved to Columbia, Missouri.</div>
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Dad was named after his great-grandfather, who was a furniture maker and farmer, and one of the pioneer settlers of Missouri. In his retirement years he spent many enjoyable hours making walnut china cabinets, tables and bookcases for his family and friends, collecting wood in some cases from remnants of the old David Johnson home built in the 1830s. He also took up rug making to use the wool from my cadet uniforms and eventually crafted dozens of hooked rugs in a variety of his own patterns. These items of his making are cherished heirlooms in the homes of his children, family and friends.</div>
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Highlights of his career are: 1938-1941, assistant to the district engineer, Kansas City; 1941-1944, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Plans and Training Office and commanding officer, Engineer Training Group. 1944-1946, commanding officer, 1164th Engineer Combat Group at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky, and Camp Shelby, Mississippi; and in the Philippines and Japan. 1946-1949, engineer, IX Corps, Honshu, Japan. 1949-1950, district engineer, Huntington, West Virginia. 1950, engineer supply officer, Columbus, Ohio, General Depot. Retired 1953.</div>
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Children are: Joanne (wife of Lieutenant Colonel Alfred H. Jones, United States Military Academy, Class of 1945), Columbia, Missouri; David T. Jr., Dayton, Ohio; Jeanne (Mrs. Jeanne B. Huffman), Wilmington, Delaware; Peter W., United States Military Academy, Class of 1954, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Nine grandchildren, two great-grandsons, and one great-granddaughter also survive him.</div>
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Dad died at his home in Columbia on 18 February 1978 and was buried in the cemetery of the Bethel Baptist Church after a moving memorial service with full military honors. He rests in peace near the church and the family and friends who were so much a part of his later years.</div>
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<em>—Peter Walton Johnson</em></div>