[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 25, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF REVEREND DR. LEROY JOHNSON, PASTOR, MISSIONARY TEMPLE 
                             C.M.E. CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ELLEN O. TAUSCHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 25, 2006

  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize City of Fairfield 
resident Dr. (Colonel) Leroy Johnson, Pastor, for his dedication and 
commitment to his church and community.
  Dr. Johnson, who was licensed to preach in 1952, has served the 
Missionary Temple C.M.E. Church since 1989. Prior to joining the C.M.E. 
Church, Dr. Johnson was president of Miles College, which has a proud 
history of producing teachers, preachers, community leaders and 
politicians, in Birmingham, AL.
  In 1963, Dr. Johnson entered the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps where he 
held various assignments which included pastoring the largest 
Protestant military/civilian congregation in Western Europe.
  During his pastorate in Kaiserslautern, West Germany, the gospel 
singers and services that exist on all American military posts, bases, 
stations, and ships today were created.
  He was the first African American to receive a line officer's 
commission under the Navy Reserve Officer Candidate Program and had the 
distinction of being a member of the Navy's first atomic bomb testing 
team in the South Pacific Marshall Islands.
  After serving in the U.S. Army and Navy during a career that included 
world conflicts such as the Korean War and Vietnam, Dr. Johnson retired 
with the rank of Colonel.
  Included amongst his 25 military awards and decorations are the 
Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, the Army 
Commendation Medal and the Navy Unit Citation.
  Dr. Johnson holds a Ph.D. from Kansas State University and has 
attained three masters degrees from Chapman University.
  As the officers and members of Missionary Temple C.M.E. Church pay 
tribute to Dr. Johnson during the ``This is your Life'' Celebration, I 
wish Dr. Johnson, his wife, Simmie Mae, and daughter, Leana, many more 
years of health and happiness.

                          ____________________