Clifford Samual Johnson Jr.

Kal-chote (Clifford(Bill) Johnson, Jr.), hereditary Makah Chief, was laid to rest December 17, 2012 on the Makah Reservation, the 4th day after death on this Earth according to his cultural teaching. Family and friends, Neah Bay VFW Unit, the Army National Guard Unit from Camp Murray, long-time Veteran friends from Neah Bay and other Reservations were present to say a final goodbye. Clifford was retired Army and a highly decorated Veteran. He died December 14th, 2012 from complications of Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. A memorial and community dinner will be on February 9th, 2013 at 12 noon at the old community hall in Neah Bay, WA. Donations can be made to a charity of your choice.
Clifford was preceded in death by his father, Clifford Johnson Sr., mother, Hazel (Purser) Johnson, sister, Doris Johnson, Step-brother, Robert Johnson. Clifford is survived by his wife, Sharon Johnson of Bremerton, Sister Dorothy (Carlton) Chamblin of Neah Bay, step-sister Jean (Larry) Olson of Neah Bay. Children: Teresa Ford of Port Orchard, Michael Garbrick of Forks, Casey (Michal) Serafin of Belfair. Grandchildren: Amber Garbrick, Jessica Garbrick, Kylie Brown, great grandchildren Maraya and Kyle, and many, very loved nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Clifford Johnson Jr., (da-dou-ith-bic) Kal-chote, grew up in the old and ancient ways of his people. Clifford Jr. was trained in the traditional teachings of the Whalers by his father, Clifford Johnson Sr. Clifford is a descendent of Ba-bus-it, a high Chief and the last whaler to bring in a whale in the old and ancient ways. He was given the songs and whale dance and gear to protect by his father. The Clifford Johnson family owns the only Whale dance and gear in Neah Bay. The Ho-mut-sah dance comes from Alert Bay and was given to Clifford Johnson, Sr. in the late 1950’s and the family has the story of origin, songs and gear. As the oldest son of the oldest son, Clifford carried the name Ba-bus-it until he passed the name to his nephew, Carlton Chamblin Jr., at a Chief’s meeting in Neah Bay, WA. with invited chiefs from other Tribes witnessing the work. When Clifford (Bill) passed on the name Ba-bus-it to his nephew Carlton Jr., he kept the name Kal-chote and shares the name Kal-chote with another nephew.
Chester Wonderheart gave Clifford Jr.(Bill) the name of E-di-wa-as when he was a baby, and later at twelve years old Molly Claplanahoo gave him the name Da-dou-ith-bic, (speaker of the people). Clifford (Bill) shares the name Da-dou-ith-bic with his brother-cousin, Frank Cordero. He also carries a Tlingit name, tse-eech-wa, (Chief of Chiefs), given to him by George Jim from Angoon, Alaska. A grateful father of a fallen Vietnam Veteran gave Clifford the name of Au-gee-ki-ta-nuh-chee, (standing soldier), a Cheyenne River Sioux name.
Kal-chote (Clifford (Bill) Johnson, Jr.), has been a speaker all of his life, speaking for the Makah people and for all Native Americans. He was invited to speak on Native American issues at the United Nations in New York where he met a Tlingit native, Richard Dalton, with a similar background growing up and he made several visits to Alaska sharing dances and songs. He was a passionate representative of Native American people speaking on issues facing Tribes throughout the United States. Clifford advanced the causes of Native Americans by his status as a Hereditary Makah Chief, and his knowledge of ancient and traditional Indian ways. He has spoken at large corporate functions of 1200-1500 people such as the Red Cross, Washington funeral directors, wheelchair games, the United Nations, Northwest and Northeast Tribal meetings, and in Europe and other countries on whaling issues. He served on the Seattle Federal executive board on Native American issues and the Veterans Administration regional office of equal opportunity committee. He represented the Makah tribe at the 1996 international whaling commission in Aberdeen, Scotland speaking with ambassadors about whale hunting and the Makah treaty.
Clifford entered the army on December 7, 1965, and served twenty plus years as a combat engineer. He served thirty-two months in Vietnam and completed four European tours of duty. He served as a platoon sergeant, sergeant 1st class, an expert with explosives, engineering training officer, and division engineer non-commissioned officer. He was with the 8th engineer battalion, 1st cavalry division, 11th cavalry armored division, 12th engineer battalion, and 9th infantry division. He received the air medal republic of South Vietnam, 2 Army commendation medal (one with “V” for Valor), six good conduct medals (first, second, third and fourth), purple heart, Silver Star, five Bronze Star’s (three with “V” for Valor & two for meritorious service), Vietnamese cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with a Palm, National Defense Medal, Vietnamese Campaign Medal with four Stars, Vietnamese Service Medal, Army Schools Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Overseas Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with three clusters, and Meritorious Unit Citation with two Clusters. He was awarded the Silver Star by President Regan at Fort Belvior, Virginia 1981. One Bronze Star and the Purple Heart were presented by (four star) General Westmoreland. One Bronze Star was presented by Lt. General (three stars) Abrams. The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star was presented by President Ky of the Republic of South Vietnam.
After retirement from the army, Clifford worked for the Makah tribe and served as tribal councilman, self-governance project coordinator, worked on developing the Indian Child Welfare program, the Veterans Administration Home Loan guarantee program, and land use planning and property acquisition, Head start health/handicapped coordinator, and was a Veterans representative for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Seattle. He served as a Makah tribal councilman and 2nd vice president of Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians. He was a life-time member of the VFW and a registered Interscholastic basketball and baseball official in his younger life.