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CARL BERTIL LENNART JOHANNSON started
life with a special advantage three given
names instead of the usual two, a not uncommon
practice for distinguished Scandinavian
families. Len’s father (four given names), Carl
Wilhelm Emil Andre Johansson, a highly
successful businessman, was the appointed
Consul for the King of Sweden. By the late
1920s, he had made millions in the stock
market and returned to his homeland to find
a suitable wife. After courting and proposing
to Lady Elsa Marie Lundvall, they sailed for
Boston on a luxurious steamer and on 5 Sep
1928 were married in a gala wedding.
Len, the first of three sons, arrived on 10
Aug 1929. Six weeks later, the stock market
crashed, leaving the family penniless. His
mother learned to manage a home and family
without servants, and his father tried his hand
at manual labor. They moved from their upscale
Boston accommodations to a more modest
home in West Newton, MA, where Len
and his two brothers, Donald and Norman,
grew up playing ball in the streets, delivering
newspapers, and going to Sunday school in a
no-frills but wholesome and rewarding, environment.
In 1946, Len graduated with honors
from Newton High School and attended
a local community college until his assets were
depleted. Then he enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Physically fit and eager for the extra $55 a
month, Len volunteered for jump school and
then was assigned to the “All-American” 82d
Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC. After
two years, he was appointed to West Point by
Massachusetts Senator Saltonstall. In the 82d,
he had learned to shine his Corcoran jump
boots, polish his brass, and wear starched fatigues.
While no plebe is “right at home” in
Beast Barracks, Len did not “sweat the little
things.” Setting the standard, he quietly excelled
while others strained to accomplish the
myriad tasks routinely dumped on plebes.
After Beast, Len settled comfortably into
the M-2 fraternity routine in New North. The
jump wings on his Plebe blouse were the envy
of his classmates and many upperclassmen.
Academics were a breeze for Len, and nearly
every M-2 intramural team sought his natural
athletic talents. A baritone, he enjoyed singing
in the Glee Club and the Chapel Choir.
Len was routinely selected for cadet officer
roles: during Plebe Christmas, Camp Buckner,
and the Air Force Trip before Cow Year. The
trip included an opportunity for “hands on” at
20,000 feet in the new Air Force T-33 Trainer.
Afterwards, Len was convinced the Air Force
was his calling. Cow year, Len was one of the
few in M-2 promoted to Cadet Corporal. Len
cruised through the year, enjoying being a cadet.
The tough Mechanics of Solids, “Fluids,”
“Juice,” and “M.T. & Go Blind” courses were
simple for Len. During the Combined Arms
visit to Ft. Bliss, TX, however, Len lost a skirmish
with the Tactical Department, becoming
a Cadet Private and an “Area Bird.” The
Queen of Greece granted him amnesty, but
Len preferred to remain a “clean sleeve” the
remainder of First Class year and never sewed
his sergeant stripes on any uniforms. He insisted
the yearbook reflect his rank as “Private
1,” probably the only graduate so recognized
in any yearbook.
At graduation, the USAF gained a great
officer, and Len served our nation faithfully
and well until his retirement in 1973. During
his first assignment with the 546th Bomber
Squadron, he logged over 1,000 hours in
the B-47, the aircraft specifically designed to
deliver a nuclear bomb. During his career,
he flew a variety of aircraft, including the
C-141 and the huge C-5. He was selected
for advanced schooling and earned an MBA
at the University of Southern California. In
Viet Nam, he earned six Air Medals and the
Bronze Star flying C-123s for the 12th Air
Commando Squadron, delivering Agent
Orange, Agent Purple, and other chemicals.
After a tour as a Tactical Officer at the Air
Force Academy, he was assigned as the Air
Force “Exchange Tac” to West Point. The
cadets at both academies loved and respected
Len, and his squadron/company cadets rewarded
him with engraved cadet sabers in appreciation.
Len often commented that he was
probably the only “clean sleeve” to be assigned
to West Point as a Tac!
After retiring from the Air Force, Len accepted
employment at and quickly became
the superintendent of the Arkansas Children’s
Colony, a facility with over 700 special needs
residents. During this period, he met the
love of his life, Tasca. In 1980, they married,
and Len became a father to Joel, Tasca’s son,
who grew up “one of the luckiest kids in the
world.” Len moved on to other management
positions in California and Hawaii, excelling
at every new challenge. In 1996, he and Tasca
retired to Greenbank, WA. Retirement on
Whidbey Island was Len’s true “heaven on
earth.” Too soon, Len died of cancer. Fitting
the M-2 ’54 description and motto, Len was
truly ABOVE THE REST.
Shortly after Len’s funeral service, I penned
these words to our companymates:
. . . the M-2 flowers were splendid
with the black, gray, and gold ribbon
and ‘Above the Rest’ in bright gold letters.
. . . Len was a great friend, perhaps
the best I ever had. He was also
my mentor, best man at our wedding,
and godfather of my son. . . the ’54
Class Godson. At our 40th reunion,
Len flew from Hawaii and drove with
me to deliver my ’54 Chevy to the
event three days each way. In those
six days in the cab of the truck, we
never turned on the radio, read a book
or magazine, and neither ever took a
nap the entire trip was an endless rehash
of great times together and great
events enjoyed and endured. I’ll miss
him. Rest in peace, Len. You were my
great FRIEND.
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