Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento Room

Title: Danny M. Johnson Research Collection

Identifier/Call Number: MC 71

Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet 2 Archival Boxes

Date (inclusive): 1942-2015

Lieut. Col. (USAF ret.) Danny Johnson is a private military scholar who has contributed to "On Point" and a number of other military publications. He specializes in World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and historic posts. He has worked as a civilian on the Department of the Army staff at the Pentagon, and as Command Historian for U.S. Army Information Systems Command and 5th Signal Command. He served a short tour in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in 2003, documenting Signal Corps involvement in the invasion. As a private military scholar, he has authored "Answering the Call in Time of War: A History of Camp Kohler and the Western Signal Corps School" (2018), "Military Communications Supporting Peacekeeping Operations in the Balkans" (2000), edited "The European Signal Corps Order of Battle" (2001), and contributed numerous inserts to the "Oxford Companion to Military History" (2001) and "Military Communications from Ancient Times to the 21st Century" (2007). In addition publishing, he is known as an advocate for the Signal Corps and its history. He currently resides in Sacramento, California.

The thrust of this collection relates to Sacramento County's Camp Kohler during its active periods from 1942 to 1947. The installation was born as Walerga Assembly Center, a Japanese American assembly camp which operated for 52 days during the spring of 1942. After the center closed, the facility was repurposed, becoming an Army Signal Corps training center named Camp Kohler in honor of First Lieutenant Frederick L. Kohler, a young Signal Corps officer from nearby Oakland who perished in a plane crash in China on 14 March, 1942. From 1942 to 1947, the land was used as a prisoner of war branch camp, an Army Air Corps overseas replacement depot, an Army branch port of embarkation, and the Walerga Engineer Depot. Evidence of the land's history and the people that lived and worked there is contained within this collection which was essential to Johnson's creation of "Answering the Call in Time of War: A History of Camp Kohler and the Western Signal Corps School" (2018).

[Identification of item], Danny M. Johnson Research Collection, MC 71, Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, California.

The collection includes 35 photographs, printed copies of newspaper articles, descriptions of the property, copies of relevant leasing and court documents, Johnson's personal notes on the location, maps, a printed copy of a PowerPoint presentation, and notes on public speaking events relating to Camp Kohler. This collection is a reflection of the comprehensive research efforts of Johnson. Original order and labeling choices of Johnson have been maintained, with one archival box being organized by year and the other by the historical property's name or purpose at that time and/or topic.