Born: 1920, United States
Died: 2015
Country most active: United States, International
Also known as: NA
The following is republished from the Library of Congress. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
Home State: New York
Dates of Service: 1942-1946
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
“You don’t forget it. There’s no way to forget it, you try not to keep it in your everyday thinking, but you’re going to think about it.” (Video interview, 17:45)
Evelyn Martin Johnson cites many positive impacts that military service had on her life, including providing an opportunity to travel, and teaching her about dealing with people from different backgrounds. She is also honest, however, in providing glimpses of the discrimination that she faced, as well as in revealing how the destruction that she witnessed in Europe left an indelible imprint on her.
“I was enjoying being where I was”: Seizing an Opportunity
The daughter of a World War I-era Navy veteran, Evelyn Johnson grew up in Buffalo, New York, and was working there as a practical nurse when the war broke out. She volunteered for the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) soon after it was formed in 1942.
“At the time, the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps had sent individuals into the various cities, and I had an opportunity to see two of them. And I was impressed with the way they looked, and their uniforms, and the way they expressed their abilities by being in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. And I also wanted to not have my parents have to send me back to college in an area that I didn’t want to be in.” (Video interview, 2:49)
Like many recruits, Johnson faced a period of adjustment to military life, but soon found that she enjoyed the experiences it had to offer:
“Well, the early days of training were difficult because I wasn’t used to having to go through so much routine, but I learned to adjust to it. And I didn’t have any problems after—I don’t know whether it was two months or whatever—but I succeeded and I came out of it alright.” (Video interview, 3:34)
“I didn’t have any problems, because I suppose I was enjoying being where I was. And I didn’t have any problems with the rules and regulations.” (Video interview, 4:46)
Johnson displayed dedication and determination to pass the Army’s training to become a medical clerk:
“My specialized training came after my first assignment to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for physical therapy and orthopedics. I had to study in order to become a medical clerk, and I studied from sunrise to sunset, and I passed.” (Video interview, 4:18)
Facing Racism at Home
In her oral history interview with Cynthia Weatherby in 2012, Johnson discussed the positive aspects of her time in the military first. She made no mention of the racist treatment she received in some areas of her own country until she was specifically asked.
“Well, in some areas, or some cities, there were no problems. In some cities we did have problems, and I’d make sure that I didn’t get involved. For example, I didn’t appreciate having to be sure I was not outdoors after 6 p.m. if I was in an area where the Black military persons were not supposed to be. I just would not be anywhere in those areas at any time. I resented the discouragement we received while we were wearing the uniform.” (Video interview, 22:50)
When asked to elaborate, Johnson recounted an incident when she and other WACs were treated with appalling disrespect by railroad staff:
“The incident that I will never forget is when there were four of us having to change trains in a certain city. I had all of the military documents, two of us—two military women—were going to Chicago, one to Philadelphia, and the other one was going to New York. I was informed by a train conductor, we—and he used the N-word—could not ride the train. And I had learned not to lose my sophistication, because I really wanted to let him know how I felt about that. But I kept my composure and I said, “We have to ride it, the military has to know where we are, and especially when we arrive in New York, we have to let them know that we’re in New York. They have to know that we’re going to Chicago, that we’re going to Philadelphia, and to New York.””
“So in order to ride that train, the officer of the day—a military person—and an MP, and the conductor, they found a piece of wrapping paper and some cord, and separated us from the white passengers. I never forgot that. And when we were seated—I at that time would always carry a cigarette lighter…. I was going to burn the paper, and one of the girls said, “Don’t do it, they would take us off this train and nobody would be able to find us.” That incident I never forgot. But I also made sure that the city of Buffalo, the NAACP, the Urban League, knew about it…. That was that incident. That’s the one I always—I can see it every day when I think about it.” (Video interview, 24:57)
Johnson also remembered how members of the 6888th were banned from shopping in certain areas around Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia prior to shipping out for Europe:
“The next incident was prior to going overseas, the area did not want us shopping in the stores. And they made sure that the individuals that were going to be shopping—I did not want to shop because I felt that my parents would send me anything I would need after I arrived overseas—but I had to go, being a sergeant. And I’ll never forget that – they had the city police and the military MPs—we were not going to destroy anything in the stores, we were not going to steal anything. So I remember that.” (Video interview, 27:58)
Deploying to Europe with the 6888th
The 6888th was treated so well in England and France that some veterans—including Johnson—considered moving to Europe after the war. The women of the 6888th relished the fact that British and French society were not segregated and they could go to whatever establishments they pleased during their off hours:
“Well, off duty while we were in England, we could go to ALL of the restaurants that were open, we could go to ALL of the dance halls – most of the time that’s where we went because we enjoyed dancing.” (Video interview, 9:14)
Johnson also took pride in the fact that the battalion was able to accomplish the daunting task of processing the enormous backlogs of mail that had accumulated in the European Theater.
“We were sent over to redirect all of the mail that had not been processed for the American military forces. There was a backlog of two and a half years of mail, and the mail was stored in warehouses – you know how the convention center looks? That’s the [size of the] space where all that mail was stored, and I didn’t believe that we were going to be able to process it, but we did.” (Video interview, 10:26)
Her pride in her work and her enjoyment of the freedom she experienced in Europe were tempered by her sense of sadness at the destruction she saw all around her in England and France:
“Destruction is heartbreaking. To see how the schools, the churches, the entire communities were bombed. Because all of that destruction had not been cleaned up, and we saw that daily where we were. Because they had bombed Birmingham before we had arrived there, and it was the same in Rouen, France. That was what was helping you wish you were leaving the area and on your way back to America.” (Video interview, 7:17)
Sixty-seven years after returning from Europe, Evelyn Johnson still vividly remembered the celebratory atmosphere and her joy at coming home:
“When you arrived in New York, and the citizens knew we were arriving, it was like a special, special holiday, because we were well greeted. Because the news had been sent ahead that a group of military persons were returning from the European Theater.” (Video interview, 12:46)
And she also remembered her readjustment to civilian life as being a joyous process:
“I was happy to be home, I was happy to not have to get up at 6 a.m. in the morning, and I enjoyed not having to do certain military obligations. And everybody was happy to see me, and I enjoyed being back in Buffalo.” (Video interview, 14:05)
Life After the War: Becoming a Model and Continuing to Serve
Evelyn Johnson had a diverse and fascinating career after her time in the WAC – she worked as a medical clerk, a government employee, and a dental hygienist before finally landing a career as a professional model. She was also involved with several veterans’ service organizations, and believed strongly in their work assisting veterans with getting access to their benefits and in providing scholarships to future generations.
When asked how her military experience affected her life and her outlook, Johnson responded:
“I think the military taught you to do what you have to do and move on. Because in the service you didn’t waste any time, you had to complete whatever you were instructed to do right then and there. And consequently, I am still a “now” person – I want to do everything now, and move on.” (Video interview, 15:23)
“I think the life lessons that you learn are to learn to really think, and to really try to do as much as you possibly can for other people.” (Video interview, 16:07)
She clearly believed that time in the military could do much for a person’s ability to empathize with others:
“I think I learned how to be tolerant, I learned how to really think. And I’m proud that I served.” (Video interview, 30:10)
Johnson passed away in 2015 at the age of 95.