The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant James W. Johnson (ASN: 38463033), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division, in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on 2 April 1945 in Germany. During an attack near Kassel, Germany, on 2 April 1945, the company in which Staff Sergeant Johnson served as a squad leader was subjected to enemy machine gun fire from a house at the outskirts of the city. To destroy the position and permit the attack to continue Staff Sergeant Johnson and his squad flanked the enemy position, but, on approaching from the rear, machine gun fire forced them to take cover. Staff Sergeant Johnson, with utter disregard for his personal safety, rushed the house, firing as he ran. Eluding the intense fire directed at him he hurled two hand grenades into the building, killing four, wounding two, and forcing the rest of the enemy to surrender. Staff Sergeant Johnson’s courage, aggressiveness, and loyal devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.