The Foreign Service Journal, October 2021

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | OCTOBER 2021 59 His next assignment was in Guinea, where he was caught up in the attempted coup against President Sekou Toure’s regime. Taken at gunpoint from his apartment and put in jail, he endured pressure to sign a forced confession. It wasn’t until the U.S. government threatened to end food aid to Guinea that he was released. He advanced to midlevel assignments primarily in the admin- istrative—as it was called at the time—cone, including Nairobi, Doha, Bridgetown, Amman andThe Hague, in addition to tours in Washington. In 1989 he was confirmed as U.S. ambassador to Sierra Leone. He would go on to be a four-time ambassador, also serving as the U.S. president’s representative in Togo, Bahrain and Slovenia. In 2004, he was awarded the rank of Career Ambassador. b Johnny Young’s prowess as a diplomat was recognized by peers and made him a role model for those who served under him. As his deputy chief of mission in Lome, Terry McCulley, recalls: “Johnny was beloved for his kindness, gentle manner and good humor, but he was also a fierce defender of American values. Togo’s President, Gnassingbe Eyadema, had been in effective power since 1963, and his security forces had pushed back brutally on efforts to open Togo’s political space, includ- ing firing on unarmed demonstrators and disappearing politi- cal opponents. Johnny was fearless in calling this out and firm in his private discussions with senior Togolese officials.” “Eyadema was not used to this kind of pushback from Ameri- can diplomats,” McCulley continued, “and during a meeting in his natal village of Pya with Ambassador Young and the visiting Africa Bureau principal deputy assistant secretary (as DCM, I was the notetaker), Eyadema asked for a private session with the Washington visitor. The PDAS told us immediately afterward that Eyadema had complained bitterly about Johnny’s actions and asked that Washington direct him to moderate his behavior. To his credit, the PDAS told the Togolese leader that Johnny was doing his job as the president’s personal representative and had Washington’s full support.” Dean Haas was DCM in Ljubljana for much of Johnny’s final ambassadorship. “My memories of Johnny are all about his warmth, his friendliness and his ability to connect. He taught me and others how to get to the next level in getting to know people and showing you care. What I noticed after a few weeks in Ljubljana was how in touch he was with the staff—he knew about the lives of the people who worked for him, making no distinction between the American and Slovenian staff. Johnny is a leader I always recall when engaged now in coaching and mentoring. His legacy is a legion of people who have basked in his glow, learned from his experience, and tried to model his humanity and faith in his people.” One of his co-pioneers in the Foreign Service, Aurelia Brazeal, described Johnny’s professionalism this way: “Johnny had an unerring way of focusing attention onto the crux of issues and, because of his intellect and forceful but unpretentious personal- ity, getting consensus in most cases. A consummate host, as a diplomat he placed the foreign official (or whoever the visitor was) at the center of his attention, frequently compelling more revelations. He listened and crafted questions based on what was being revealed, thus learning substantially more from even a casual interaction.” b After retiring from the Foreign Service, Johnny relished the time with his children, David and Michelle, and his grandson, Phoenix. He stayed busy, becoming a private consultant, con- tractor and lecturer. He was appointed executive director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2004, a position he held until just before his death. But more than the numerous, odds-defying accomplishments, it was Johnny’s effusive happiness that endeared people to him most. Johnny would always say that despite the many challenges he faced growing up, he grew up happy. His humility, his grace, the joy he spread, his determination to pay it back and pay it forward—that is what defined him to the people he met. His part- nership with his beloved Angelina reinforced all these qualities, and our thoughts go with her as she endures the loss of the love of her life. b Goodbye, ambassador, Mr. Career Ambassador. Goodbye, mentor. Goodbye, role model. Goodbye, friend. Goodbye to that special aura that was an inspiration to literally thousands around the world. I’d close by saying rest in peace, but you always seemed at peace; indeed, you were the source of peace. Instead, I’ll say thank you. The world is a better place with the energy you brought it. Goodbye, Johnny. n Johnny ran embassies that welcomed not just the employee, but the whole community.