JeffERY L. Johnson
Contact Information
Email: HeyitzJJ@gmail.com
Tel. (678) 230-6705
Bio
Jeff is a veteran of the United States Navy, having served on US military bases in Japan in the enlisted ranks as a Cryptologic Technician during the final years of the Cold War. He presently resides in Buford, GA with his wife Mayumi from Nagasaki, Japan, and he has over 30 years experience with the Japanese people and culture.
Jeff has served as Vice-President & Deputy Commander of the Atlanta World War II Round Table, and in July of 2023 Jeff will become the new President & Commander. He has served as technical advisor for National Geographic Channel’s World War II television programing and he works as a freelance videographer. His "real job" is as a Supply Chain Sourcing Manager for Hanger, Inc.
Presentation: "The Untold Story of the Rise of Imperial Japan"
The Untold Story of the Rise of Imperial Japan explores a series of historical events almost never discussed in the United States involving internal and external forces over four centuries that catapulted Japan, a once relatively peaceful and isolated island nation, to imperialism and led to Pearl Harbor and the Asian Holocaust.
This thought-provoking presentation is full of rich imagery, sound and video, and keeps the audience sitting on edge as each historical event is revealed like one domino falling into the next, leading to an unavoidable and tragic clash of cultures.
Jeff explains, “I have found that Americans are generally familiar with the reasons for the European War and the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich, but most Americans have a shallow understanding and one-dimensional view of America's World War II Pacific enemy, an understanding that is often limited to ‘Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, so we went to war with them’. There’s a far deeper story with a few surprises that needs to be heard, and one that people may find equally or even more fascinating than the rise of National Socialism in Europe.”
In the spirit of learning the lessons of war so that future wars may be avoided, Jeff applies an evenhanded method by covering the combined actions of Japan and Western powers that culminated in the Pacific War.
Run time: Approx. 1 hr 15 min + Q&A
Presentation: "Downfall: The Atomic Bombs and the Planned Invasion of the Japanese Home Islands"
This compelling presentation involves sound, video, and animation to bring to life little-known details about the atomic bombs dropped on Japan and OPERATION DOWNFALL: the planned US invasion of the Japanese Home Islands.
Jeff’s visual storytelling weaves the narrative of his friend Bill Montgomery, a US Marine Corps veteran and Iwo Jima survivor who was slated to invade Japan in November 1945, with the narrative of Jeff’s Japanese father-in-law who experienced the US strategic bombing campaign of Japan.
Jeff applies a strong focus on the second atomic bomb mission on Nagasaki, a mission that typically receives less notoriety than the Hiroshima mission but is arguably more fascinating.
Jeff's narrative assumes that Japan will not surrender after Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the presentation then simulates the US invasion of the Japanese Home Islands from the perspective of the Fifth Marine Division.
Run time: Approx. 1 hr 15 min + Q&A
Technical Requirements
- Projector screen or large TV with sound that can be connected to Jeff's laptop via HDMI port
- Podium
- Microphone or lapel mic for large rooms
- Jeff's laptop must be placed on podium and he will drive the presentation with his clicker
Locations and Travel
Atlanta Metro Area. Travel outside Atlanta Metro requires reimbursement for travel, meals and lodging.