This is the last photo of David A. Johnston taken 13 hours before the eruption of Mount Saint Helens
This is the last photo of David A. Johnston taken 13 hours before the eruption of Mount Saint Helens This is the last photo of David A. Johnston taken 13 hours before the eruption of Mount Saint Helens. His last words were over the radio where he said, “Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!” before going silent. His body was never found. David Alexander Johnston, an American volcanologist, was the principal scientist on the USGS (United States Geological Survey) monitoring team. His career took him all over the United States, where he studied various volcanoes. As a talented and meticulous scientist, Johnston was known for his analyses of volcanic gases and their relationship to eruptions. His positive attitude and enthusiasm made his co-workers love and respect him. Johnston once famously told reporters that being on Mount St. Helens was akin to “standing next to a dynamite keg and the fuse is lit.” He was also one of the first volcanologists to arrive at the scene when signs of eruption ...