Billy Jack Johnson, a paramilitary & maritime ops expert, was a talented instructor known for his skill & expertise in unique specialties
FEB 1968, while serving in SE Asia, his vehicle was struck by enemy mortar
Billy was killed instantly
bit.ly/2CGu5fi
#inmemoriam
Billy served for nearly 20 years in the @USNavy as a Chief Quartermaster, with #WWII experience in Japan, Korea, Formosa (now Taiwan), & aboard the USS Mississippi & USS Tangier.
#inmemoriam
Based on Billy’s specialty in Far East maritime supply & support, his paramilitary training, & experiences, he was detailed to CIA from 1952-1956 as a trainer in maritime & paramilitary ops.
After his honorable discharge from @USNavy, Billy joined CIA in August 1956.
#inmemoriam
Billy’s 1st assignment was as a training assistant in the Soviet Division of our Deputy Directorate for Plans.
Over the next 10 years, he served in many positions– training assistant, training officer, & senior instructor –specializing in paramilitary & maritime ops.
#inmemoriam
Billy was also an expert in agent communications & surveillance training. His maritime experiences ran the gamut from navigation, piloting, & ship maintenance to amphibious techniques under combat conditions.
#inmemoriam
By 1965 Billy added ammunition, sabotage, & demolition to his list of specialties.
During the late 1960s, he was considered by many to be among our leading experts in fingerprint ID, escape & evasion, & one of our two best picks & locks experts.
#inmemoriam
Fall 1966: Billy was sent to SE Asia as an operations officer. He served as an advisor to a special police informant program & as the operations advisor to a combined revolutionary development cadre & provincial reconnaissance unit of more than 600 local nationals.
#inmemoriam
Billy was also responsible for intelligence activities in the region, targeting operations against the enemy infrastructure. By this time, he had advanced from senior instructor to agent handler & intelligence collector.
#inmemoriam
February 1, 1968, while making his rounds to conduct surveys, make payroll disbursements, & meet w local tribal leaders, Billy was killed when the vehicle in which he was riding took a direct hit from an enemy mortar.
#inmemoriam
Billy Jack Johnson was 49 years old when he was killed. He was survived by his wife and 3 sons. He is honored with a star on our CIA Memorial Wall.
bit.ly/2CGu5fi
#inmemoriam
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