Freeman Johnson, the oldest living survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack, was far below deck repairing a boiler on the USS St. Louis when Japanese planes struck on December 7, 1941. Now 106, Johnson never witnessed the assault firsthand. He neither saw the attacking aircraft nor heard his shipmates' guns. By the time he emerged, the light cruiser had evaded midget submarines and was escaping to sea. Johnson recalled, 'While all the rigamarole was going on topside, I was inside a steam drum. Couldn’t see anything, absolutely nothing.'
A Life of Service
His Centerville, Massachusetts, living room testifies to his Navy service, adorned with photographs of the St. Louis, himself as a young sailor, challenge coins, and ribbons. He still possesses his original military ID tag. Even as the St. Louis steamed into the Pacific, Johnson, then a fireman, remained unaware of the attack's full scope. He explained, 'We were way out to sea. All you saw was ocean.' Reflecting on his rank, he added, 'I was just a sailor, just a swabbie. They don’t tell you anything if you don’t need to know.'
Speaking to New Generations
When speaking to schoolchildren, Johnson is often asked if he was scared. His gravelly voice rises: 'You’re not scared. You’re too busy. Besides, you don’t know what you’re scared of. You can’t see anything.' Johnson became the oldest survivor after the death of Ira 'Ike' Schab in December at 105. Only 11 survivors of the attack remain. The assault killed over 2,400 troops and propelled the US into World War II.
From Avoidance to Reluctant Fame
For much of his life, Johnson avoided the spotlight. He remembers his wife, Ruth, calling the Navy to share his story, only for 'the girl laughed at her.' Now, as the oldest survivor, he is a local celebrity. His 106th birthday party saw him arrive in a limousine, greeted by TV cameras. Despite being hard of hearing, requiring a walker, and suffering from congestive heart failure, he recalls wartime details vividly.
Why He Joined the Navy
At 19, unemployed in Waltham, Johnson enlisted to avoid the Army draft, believing it less physically demanding. 'I didn't want to walk from France to Germany carrying a knapsack,' he said. His memories extend beyond Pearl Harbor. He helped commission the USS Iowa and recalls its preparations for transporting President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference in 1943. The ship was equipped with elevators and a bathtub, and much ammunition was removed to lighten it. 'It was a big meeting,' Johnson said. He also witnessed Japan's surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. 'It was all over. That was the end of the war.'
Family and Legacy
His daughter Diane lives with him and prompts him to share stories, especially with children. 'It’s kind of overwhelming when you think of it. He’s at the beginning, middle, and end of the war,' she said. Johnson gained attention after Diane corrected a TV report mistakenly stating the last survivor in Massachusetts had died. He now leads the Cape Cod St. Patrick's Parade. Desmond Keogh, parade chairman, said, 'I wish more people were like him. He just gets on and doesn't complain.'
Despite the focus on Pearl Harbor, Johnson does not consider it his life's defining moment. That honor belongs to marrying his late wife and raising three daughters. He worked as a machinist, at a convenience store, and delivered meals to seniors, retiring at 90. 'Pearl Harbor just happened. I can’t put it any other way,' he said.
