The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospital Corpsman Third Class Charles E. Johnson (NSN: 7778277), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 23 August 1966, in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving as a Corpsman with Company G, Second Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF. Discovering two Marine casualties concealed by dense vegetation in the mountainous jungles southeast of DaNang during Operation ALLEGHENY, Petty Officer Johnson, although surrounded by a fierce firefight, exposed himself to enemy fire to aid his wounded comrades. He quickly made his way to the first man only to discover that he was dead. After pressing on to the second man who was seriously wounded, a third Marine pointed to a nearby Viet Cong spider trap and shouted that it was still occupied by the enemy. Realizing the serious danger to the life of the casualty, Petty Officer Johnson, after notifying a machine gunner whose weapons soon became inoperative, quickly obtained a pistol, boldly assaulted the enemy position, and succeeded in eliminating the threat. By his swift response in an extremely hazardous situation, he ensured the safety of the wounded man and upheld the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.