[citation needed] Johnson became a professional sailor, joining the Merchant Marine in 1926, working summers as crew and captain of various yachts including the "Charmian" for Newcomb Carlton (President of Western Union), which led to the opportunity to sail on the Peking.
[citation needed] While serving as mate on board the Wanderbird, Johnson met (Harriet) Electa "Exy" Search whom he married in 1932.
With an amateur crew, they traveled hundreds of thousands of miles to the islands of the South Pacific, ports of call in Southeast Asia, around the Cape of Good Hope and home to Gloucester without incident 18 months later seven times.
Upon the urging of Bill Donovan, soon to be the head of the predecessor to the OSS, Johnson joined the U.S. Navy in 1941, and was at Pearl Harbor on the day of the attack.
[citation needed] Dr. Sheldon's experience on board the ill-fated brigantine Albatross served as the basis for the film White Squall (1996).