BEMIDJI 鈥� Each seashell in Ardell Johnson鈥檚 expansive collection comes with a story.
Nearly 50 years after collecting his broad assortment of seashells while working in the Marshall Islands, the boxes of shells have been brought out of storage and carefully displayed at his daughter's home south of Bemidji for the family to reflect on all the fond memories they bring with them.
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Originally from the Twin Cities, Johnson, now 91, joined the military as soon as he was old enough, inspired by the Pearl Harbor bombing in 1941 which stuck with him through his formidable years.
He had a background in mechanics and thought he would follow that path through the military; however, he was gifted an opportunity to pursue electronics as a radar repairman and thought 鈥淲hy not.鈥�
鈥淚 was a sailing vessel without any wind out of high school, I didn't know what the hell I wanted to do,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淭hen the Marine Corps screwed my head on straight.鈥�
After boot camp, Johnson found employment with his newfound electronic skills at Philco in Minneapolis. After a year, he found a new job at Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC), a job that would forever change his life for the better.
Western Electric subcontracted UNIVAC to visit the largest island in the Marshall Island Atoll, Kwajalein 鈥� just 6 square miles 鈥� for rocket testing through the late 1960s and early 1970s. Johnson would lead this expedition as a field engineer and an expert of the Athena Computer which was used during testing in conjunction with the United States Air Force.
His family traveled with him, enjoying their stay at the Marshall Islands.
鈥淚t was like a fantasy; it was wonderful,鈥� his daughter, Becky Brown shared. 鈥淲e did not want to leave.鈥�
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鈥淜wajalein is a highlight of my," Johnson paused, "our lives.鈥�
The Johnson family first trekked to the atoll 鈥� an island chain formed at the top of a dormant volcano 鈥� in 1968, where they lived for about six months. However, their trip was cut short due to one of Johnson鈥檚 daughters becoming ill.
Fortunately, Johnson鈥檚 superiors wanted him back at the atoll and in 1972, the Johnson family returned and stayed until 1974.
Their first trip introduced them to one hobby that would eventually consume them during their second trip: scuba diving for seashells.
The hunt for seashells
Scuba and seashells were well established on the islands. Brown recalls learning about both in school as many kids would wear bathing suits under their school clothes to enjoy the beach during lunch recess.
On the flip side, Johnson found ways to fit diving into his schedule whenever possible. He could be found during the day, evening or lunch breaks whether with companions or out on his own, diving through the crystal clear waters, surfacing with a handful of cowrie shells.
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To harvest, he鈥檇 leave the shells out in the harsh sun, allowing them to dry before taking them home. This smelly part of the process was not pleasant but the collection process as a whole was rewarding for Johnson.
And the Marshall Islands offered many unique diving opportunities, like sunk Japanese cargo ships and local coral reefs.
Johnson鈥檚 free time was permanently booked.
鈥淵ou're probably wondering, (when did I) have time for work,鈥� he joked.
Of course, Johnson spent the bulk of his time working as a field engineer. He witnessed countless rocket launches and worked through complicated math to ensure each launch was a success.
鈥淭here were a bunch of different contractors there doing different things,鈥� Brown explained, 鈥渂ut for (UNIVAC), a missile would launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, and their job was to launch a missile from Kwajalein to intercept. They called it hitting a bullet with a bullet. Every month there was testing and they would have to calculate a near miss and calculate what was the difference between the two.鈥�
War tensions were high during Johnson鈥檚 stay at Kwajalein. The Vietnam War waged as the Cold War continued.
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鈥淭hey were saving the Western world,鈥� Brown added.
As Johnson鈥檚 two-year contract drew near, one elusive seashell occupied his mind: the Golden Cowrie, a larger-than-average, golden shell that sold for a pretty penny.
Johnson had found one before but the resident marine snail had perished, diminishing the golden aura of the shell.
But on one of his last dives at Kwajalein, Johnson finally got his hands on a Golden Cowrie. After 50 years, the shell still has its shine.
Johnson looks back at memories like these with appreciation.
鈥淚 was so fortunate to be in the right place at the right time,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ome of it just comes by luck. But I also looked for stuff, too. I think that helped me be in the right place at the right time, and I was able to do the job.鈥�
Life after the Marshall Islands
After all the excitement, it was time to pack up and say goodbye to the Marshall Islands. Even though Johnson hasn't returned since, his passion for adventure and exploration 鈥� alongside his hobby of scuba diving 鈥� stuck with him throughout his life.
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In 1982, Johnson found himself in Guam on another business trip. He installed computers at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. He participated in other domestic business trips, and later on, worked with the Minneapolis Police Reserve as an underwater recovery and communications agent, honing the scuba skills he attained at the Marshall Islands.
And all of these opportunities are thanks to the military which gave Johnson a chance.
鈥淚 don't have one day of college,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淢y education (was) a restless school of hard knocks.鈥�
Not all of life was perfect, however, as a difficult time was when Johnson鈥檚 first wife of 30 years, Lenore, passed away. Johnson eventually remarried Ruth and the pair has been happily married for 36 years and currently live south of Bemidji near Guthrie.
But his seashells, symbolic of an important chapter in life, were stored away in 1988, not to be seen again until recently discovered in storage by his stepson who contacted Brown to see if she could help go through the boxes of treasures.
She laid out all of the seashells, creating the perfect opportunity to reminisce about the past with her father.
Now, Johnson hopes that sharing his story will prompt others to share similar kinds of experiences from their lives. Johnson is currently on the waitlist to move into the Bemidji Veterans Home, where he hopes to make new connections and friendships with others who have storied pasts.
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In the meantime, Johnson would love to hear from and connect with others as a new chapter in his life begins. He can be contacted at (218) 333-0726.
