The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunnery Sergeant [then Sergeant] Johnny K. Berry (MCSN: 2006360), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an 81-mm. Mortar Forward Observer with Company I, Third Battalion, First Marine Regiment in Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam on 22 December 1967. On patrol during Operation Fortress Ridge, Gunnery Sergeant Berry’s platoon came under intense enemy automatic weapons fire which pinned down two of the platoon’s three weapons squads and killed and wounded a number of Marines. Gunnery Sergeant Berry immediately assisted the platoon commander in directing the two pinned down squads, maneuvering the one mobile squad, and calling in 81 mm mortar fire. After two wounded Marines were sighted in open terrain and an attempt to reach them was aborted when rescue personnel were hit by enemy fire, Gunnery Sergeant Berry and the platoon’s corpsman jumped up and ran to their aid. They picked up the wounded men and ran back across the exposed, open terrain, carrying the injured Marines to the relative safety of the platoon perimeter. Gunnery Sergeant Berry, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, bravely subjected himself to intense hostile fire to effect the rescue of two fellow Marines who might possibly have died without his assistance. By his daring action, exemplary presence of mind, and selfless devotion to duty, Gunnery Sergeant Berry reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.