Page 22 - Florida Sentinel 12-18-15 Edition

WW II Veteran
‘Every Day Is A Holiday When You’re Retired’
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
As others make plans for the Christmas holiday, Progress Village resident Mr. Emanuel P. Johnson takes the day in stride. And, when asked what his plans for the holiday was, he simply said, “Every day is a holiday when you’re retired.”
A native of Marianna, Florida, Mr. Johnson cele- brated his 94th birthday in Oc- tober. He places great store in the fact that he continues to be healthy and able to do practi- cally anything his heart de- sires.
“Do you know what your greatest wealth is,” he asked? And then he answers the ques- tion with, “Your greatest wealth in life is your health.”
Mr. Johnson is one of a few World War II veterans liv- ing in Hillsborough County. He recalls working as a civilian at the military base in Mari- anna because he was too young.
When he became of age, he was drafted in 1942 and served until 1945. He was stationed in Nuremberg, Germany when the war ended.
When Mr. Johnson was discharged, he couldn’t find
tains volumes of information, neatly kept in notebooks. He has newspaper clippings that have been laminated and even books among his collection.
Family-oriented, Mr. Johnson also serves as the
Historian of Marianna, where he still has family, including his aunt. “My aunt is 105 and we talk every week,” he said.
“I always tell people after the glory there is always a story. But to appreciate the
glory, you have to tell the story.”
As the interview drew to a close, Mr. Johnson said he never says goodbye. Instead, he ended the conversation with, pleasant words.”
EMANUEL P. JOHNSON
work, and said he tried to re- enter the military. “But, I had two sons and they wouldn’t take me. So, I became em- ployed with DeVoe Paint Com- pany, the first paint company in the United States. And, then I came to Progress Village. I put $250 down and paid $56 a month for 40 years. And, now my house is paid for,” he said.
And after 35 years of em- ployment, Mr. Johnson de- cided the time had come to retire. He officially retired in 1996. “And, I became the His- torian of Progress Village,” he said.
Mr. Johnson applies the same dedication to his role of Historian as he has with other aspects of his life. He main-
PAGE 10-B FLORIDA SENTINEL-BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015