A couple of years ago, Francois Johnson of Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood saw a television interview with a survivor of the D-Day invasion of Normandy in World War II.
“This journalist asked the veteran, ‘How did you feel about it?'” Johnson said. “And this old man just laughed. He was very humble, and he said, ‘You know something, I thought I was Superman.'”
The veteran’s reply inspired Johnson, who is retired, to write a children’s book, “Little Johnny Superman and His D-Day Adventure.”
“Many sacrificed their lives and others put their lives on the line for freedom,” Johnson said. “I wanted to put this in a child-friendly style.”
Johnson moved to Chicago from Nantes, France, in 1964 at age 23. Over her nearly 40-year career, she held a variety of jobs, from assistant preschool teacher to program coordinator. She also served as a writer and translator for Chicago Mayors Harold Washington and Richard M. Daley.
Beyond the theme in her book of good triumphing over evil, Johnson said, “I wanted to thank the Americans for their generosity, because it’s very moving in France. You see all the small white crosses in Normandy, and you’ll see American families looking for their loved ones with white roses in hand. When they find their family member, you see the relief on their faces.”
Johnson’s work for the state of Illinois, city of Chicago, Chicago Sister Cities International, Chicago Commission on Human Relations and Chicago Urban League almost always involved bringing people together through transformative measures that bridged racial divides and promoted social justice. As an example, amid desegregation she worked to unify parents, black and white, to help them build better quality schools.
In 1936, at age 18, Johnson’s father, a welder, entered France’s mandatory military service. World War II prompted France to extend his three-year term. In 1940, the Nazis captured him and took him prisoner. After five years in a hard labor camp, he was freed by U.S. forces in 1945.
“My father was freed because of American intervention,” Johnson said. “Because of the sacrifice of American soldiers, Europe was freed. When I saw the television interview with the veteran, I thought, ‘How could this man do this?!'”
Johnson, a mother of three, grandmother of six and great-grandmother of three, originally intended her book as a personal gift to family members that would somehow capture part of her father’s legacy.
Later, she realized its potential as an educational tool.
The story follows Johnny, who grows up in a small town in America reading comic books about Superman that inspire him to help others. At 16, Johnny is so intent on answering the call to duty for World War II, he claims he is 18 and fights the terrible monsters on the beach at Normandy.
When a television newsman asks Johnny about his experience, he replies, much like the veteran who inspired Johnson to write her story, that he thought he was Superman. The story ends with the newsman saying, “Johnny, you were Superman.”
But Johnson’s book does not end there.
Published and illustrated by ABC Educational Materials & Training in Hickory Hills, the book goes on to encourage young readers to learn more about D-Day, D-Day songs and Europe. It also suggests young readers consider the superheroes in their family histories.
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The encouraging afterward is reflected in reviews on the book’s page on Amazon.com. One reads:
“My daughters loved this book! It was appropriate for both of their age groups, which is 8 years — 12 years … My oldest was able to understand how the story related to “D-Day” as she has learned about D-Day in her World History Class. I really appreciated the history that the author gives at the end of the book. It allowed me to remind my daughters that their Great Grandfather fought in WWII. Not only did he fight in the war he also received a Purple Heart.”
Besides her own father, Johnson kept her 7-year-old great grandson, Amir, in mind when she wrote her book. Of Amir, she said, “He’s a happy little kid, full of dreams. He wants to go to the moon.”
Susan DeGrane is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.