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Malcolm David ‘Mick’ Johnson
Malcolm David “Mick” Johnson, World War II POW, passed away June 22, 2016 at the age of 95.
Mick was born Feb. 14, 1921 at Rice, Washington. Although the records say Colville, Mick was born at home with Granny Brown, the midwife, assisting his mother. He is the namesake of his uncle Malcolm Stuart Cameron. His parents were Euclare Jean Cameron and Emery Charles Johnson, who also had an older son, Charles Cameron Johnson.
Mick attended elementary school at Rice where his dad’s sister, Vivien, was a teacher in a two-room school. During his high school years at Kettle Falls, he was a champion boxer and played football wearing a leather helmet. His best subject in high school was agriculture – not bad for a farmer!
After graduation he worked in Spokane and Portland before joining Morris-Knudsen in Boise, Idaho, as a construction worker. That job took him to Wake Island via Honolulu. His arrival on Wake Island on Easter Sunday, 1941, garnered many construction friends and marine buddies. In December 1941, the Japanese bombed Wake Island and Honolulu at the same time; however, the bombing of Wake Island continued for two weeks. Mick fought valiantly fending off the Japanese attack. He and many others were wounded but his friends saved his life by helping him jump on board the ship (Nitta Maru) that took the prisoners to China, via Japan. He spent over 44 months as a POW in China. Towards the end of WWII, he was shipped to Japan via Korea.
In February, 1947, as a civilian, he was honored with a Bronze Star by the US Navy. The medal has a combat “V” clasp, a rare and unusual award. Upon repatriation after WWII, he and his father became partners in the ranch at Rice. Mick married Iris Weller in March, 1947. His brother Philip joined the partnership in 1952.
Mick served on the local school board where his children attended the same school. He was a member of the Odd Fellows and the Grange. His family moved to Arizona in 1959 for child health reasons. He married Gloria Postel in 1969. Mick was active in his community serving as president of the Lions Club, receiving the Yard of the Month award, and belonging to the Elks Club. He enjoyed reading, watching westerns, rebuilding vehicles and fixing nearly everything. If he could have managed living in a crowded dorm he would have been a great engineer like his brother Philip.
Mick worked first in the Kennecott Truck Shop at Ray Mines Division. After an industrial accident, he moved to the survey crew and learned a great deal about geology. Mick worked at the pilot plant extracting copper by the electro-winning process and became a foreman when that project expanded to a large operation. His new 1965 Silver Ford Mustang carried the sophomore homecoming royalty for his daughter’s class that year.
Mick stressed getting an education and completed a number of college courses. He insisted that his children get an education. Some listened and some did not. He retired in 1980, spending his time reading (4-5 books/week), woodworking, working on the house/yard, socializing, and playing cards and board games.
A family party was held on Valentine’s Day, 2016, to celebrate his 95th birthday.
Mick passed away Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at Northwest Hospital in Tucson.
He is preceded in death by two brothers, Charles and Philip; two sisters, Jean and Margery; first wife, Iris Weller; second wife, Gloria Robertson Postel; children: a stillborn daughter; sons, Steven Johnson and John Postel. He is survived by his sister, Jill Kinder of Colville, WA; children, Jim Postel (Lizz), Jody Johnson, Joel Johnson, Chris Postel (Lucy), and Linda Postel Carroll (Donnie). Mick was especially close to his niece, Kiki (Mike Welfel). His grandchildren include Garrett Fritz (Holly), Amanda Johnson, Bethany Vance (Tony), Darron Fritz (Becky), David Johnson, Kory Fritz (Liza), John Carroll (Katy) and Ryan Carroll (Samantha). Great-grandchildren include: Hale Johnson, Cole Sailor, Skylah Johnson, Parker Magnusson, Caleb Ready, Cora Fritz, Alyssa Fritz, Chloe Fritz, Madeleine Johnson and Claire Vance.
Graveside services will be held on Monday, July 11, at 9 a.m. at Mountain View Memorial Gardens, 7900 E. Main, Mesa, AZ. Following the service, a reception/brunch will be held at the Golden Corral, 1318 N Cooper Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85233, SW corner of Stapley and Baseline at 10 a.m. Later in the afternoon (July 11), a potluck-celebration will start about 4 p.m. at the Kearny GKI.
In lieu of flowers, please make your checks payable to: Chris Postel (Mick Johnson – check bottom) and deposit at RayFCU or mail to: Chris Postel, PO Box 296, Kearny AZ 85137. These funds will be used to: create a Veteran Wall Memorial (with individual pictures/bios) in the Kearny Library and purchase books, supplies, furniture, shelves, etc. for the library.
Mick was featured in several articles in the Copper Basin News in 2015, telling the story of his imprisonment in China during World War II. They can be read online here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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