The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Randall R. Johnson (MCSN: 485311), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Member of Company E, Second Battalion, Seventeenth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Cape Gloucester, Solomon Islands, while engaged in constructing a road vital to the advance of our tanks and infantry in this area, on 3 January 1944. When the regular operator of a bulldozer was wounded by enemy fire, Private First Class Johnson immediately crawled toward the abandoned vehicle in the face of powerful enemy fire and, although not a regular bulldozer operator, courageously proceeded to operate the vehicle by manipulating the controls with an axe and shovel. By his persevering efforts, Private First Class Johnson contributed materially to the completion of the road and to the subsequent destruction of a strongly entrenched nest of enemy pillboxes which was impeding the advance of our forces in the area. His initiative, courage and devotion to duty throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.