Louis A. Johnson

Louis Arthur Johnson was the United States Assistant Secretary of War from 1937 to 1940. He was the second United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the cabinet of President Harry S. Truman from March 28, 1949 to September 19, 1950.

Johnson was born on January 10, 1891 in Roanoke, Virginia, to son of Marcellus Arthur and the former Katherine Leftwich. He earned a law degree from the University of Virginia. After graduation he practiced law in Clarksburg, West Virginia his firm, Steptoe amp Johnson eventually opened offices in Charleston, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.. Elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1916, he served as majority floor leader and chairman of the Judiciary Committee. During World War I, Johnson saw action as an Army Captain in France, where he compiled a long report to the War Department on Army management and materiel requisition practices. After the war he resumed his law practice and was active in veterans affairs, helping to found the American Legion and serving as its national commander in 193233.

Source: Wikipedia