Special to the Bugle
Michael “Dutch” Johnson, a retired master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and 19-year St. Anthony Park resident, has been named commander of Roseville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7555, effective July 1. In this role, he will oversee VFW Post operations, community programs and annual events that serve veterans, families and local residents.
Johnson began his military career with two years of active-duty service in the Navy, serving as a yeoman aboard the aircraft carriers USS Independence and USS Theodore Roosevelt. It was during this time that he earned the nickname “Dutch,” which has remained with him across 31 years of military service and civic engagement.
After active duty, Johnson served in the Navy Reserve for 12 years in the field of air transportation. In 2000, he transferred to the Air Force Reserve, where he served another 17 years before retiring in 2018 as a master sergeant. At one time or another, he worked in no less than 14 states or territories as well as Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Thailand and Singapore.
One of the most significant periods of his career came during his deployment to Iraq in 2005–2006 with the 39th Aerial Port Squadron at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. During that deployment, Johnson’s air transportation unit moved more than 25,000 military personnel into and out of Iraq while transporting thousands of tons of critical equipment and supplies in support of military operations.
Following his retirement, Johnson remained committed to serving fellow veterans by joining VFW Post 7555 in 2018 and Rosetown (Roseville) American Legion Post 542 in 2023. Over the past three years, he has served the VFW as junior vice commander, membership chair, newsletter editor and member of the Roseville American Legion/VFW Combined Color Guard.
The VFW Post hosts numerous activities throughout the year, including holiday celebrations, community meals, youth events, veterans’ recognition programs and charitable initiatives that support veterans’ organizations as well as local school athletic, arts and academic programs.