Judge also was prosecutor, chopper pilot in Vietnam
When he was growing up in Lima, retired Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge David L. Johnson had two ambitions: to be a prosecutor and learn to fly.
During his 83 plus years, Johnson accomplished both those goals. He had a flying career as a helicopter pilot with the U.S. Army and then was chief criminal counsel in the Franklin County prosecutor’s office before he served as a judge from 1988 to 2004.
Johnson, who suffered from Parkinson’s disease, died on Saturday after a short illness.
After his graduation from Lima Central High School, Johnson was drafted in 1953 and became a career officer in the Army, where he eventually was promoted to colonel.
He served two tours of duty in Vietnam, flying over 4,200 hours of combat missions. “He was highly decorated but he never said a word about it,” said former Franklin County Prosecutor Michael Miller, who was his boss and friend of many years.
Sally Johnson, his daughter, said she didn’t know of her father’s exploits until she reviewed his record in applying for veteran’s benefits. Among his many citations were four Legion of Merit, four Distinguished Flying Cross and three Bronze Star medals.
In one case, Johnson volunteered to fly a helicopter alone to rescue the wounded in a special forces camp. He flew fast and low under relentless fire and helped carry the wounded to the chopper, the citation said.
Retiring from the Army in 1976, Johnson enrolled in the Ohio State University law school. He joined the Franklin County prosecutor’s office in 1978, eventually becoming the office’s chief criminal counsel under Miller.
In 1988, Johnson was elected to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court. He was reelected twice until he decided to step down in 2004.
His demeanor as a judge was much like he was off the bench. “He was intelligent and hard working and thought things through. He never treated anybody harshly,” Miller said.
Sally Johnson said: “He loved the law and loved being a judge. But he was a soldier.”
Johnson’s wife preceded him in death in 2007. In addition to Sally Johnson, he is survived by another daughter, Leslie Mullen, and two sons, David A. and Chad Johnson; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Friends may call from 1 to 3 and 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Moreland Funeral Home, 55 E. Schrock Road, Westerville.