War hero identified after medals found in Seattle police inventory

SEATTLE — War medals were discovered by Seattle police during routine inventory.

Little information was available about the man pictured.

Thanks to a series of tips, detectives were able to identify the man as retired admiral Frank G. Johnson.

Johnson was born in Massachusetts in 1900; he passed away on April 3, 1981.

He's described in a NOAA biography as "a hard-working officer with a mild temperament ... known throughout the service for his hearty laugh."

Seattle police are working to locate family left in the area.

Johnson studied civil engineering and then served 37 years with the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey. According to his obituary in the Seattle Times, he was the captain of The Surveyor, based in Seattle.

He retired in 1961.

"A hard-working officer with a mild temperament, he is known throughout the service for his hearty laugh. …

Following his graduation he was appointed to the Corps as a Deck Officer. He was then appointed as an Ensign in May 1925. …

During World War II, Admiral Johnson was transferred to the U.S. Army where he served as Corps Artillery Survey Officer.

He was assigned in the United States at Camp Roberts, Ft. Bragg, Ft. Lewis, and Ft. Sill; overseas he served in England, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, and Czechoslovakia.

Admiral Johnson was awarded an honorary promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral in accordance with the Act of June 6, 1942, (33 USC 864e).

This honor was based on his having received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in military operations in France from September 10, 1944 to November 8, 1944, and having received a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for military operations in Germany in March 1945.

Admiral Johnson [was] survived by his wife, Rebecca O. and son, John M. Johnson."

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