The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant John Cullen Johann (MCSN: 1132242), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Acting Company Gunnery Sergeant of Company E, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 12 May 1968, during Operation ALLEN BROOK, Sergeant Johann was moving with his company in a search and destroy mission through a village east of An Hoa in Quang Nam Province when the left flank of his unit suddenly came under heavy small arms, automatic weapons and rocket fire from a North Vietnamese Army force, wounding several Marines. Rapidly assessing the situation, Sergeant Johann assisted in organizing the evacuation of the casualties and moved into the fire-swept area to carry an injured man 150 meters across an open rice paddy to an evacuation area. Knocked to the ground when enemy rockets struck a nearby tank as he returned to the battle area, he quickly regained his footing and attempted to rescue the injured driver. Knocked to the ground a second time when the tank was again struck by hostile fire, killing the driver, he was forced away from the vehicle by the heavy volume of enemy fire. After ensuring that another tank was brought forward to provide fire support, he moved into the fire-swept area and recovered a wounded Marine, carrying him to safety. Realizing that the enemy would attempt to deliver fire into the evacuation area, he directed the evacuation of all the casualties from the area and personally carried four of the wounded 300 meters to a landing zone. Undaunted by the hostile fire around him, he returned to the battle area, discovered a Marine who was seriously wounded, immediately provided first aid treatment and rushed the casualty to the landing zone where he was quickly evacuated, ultimately saving the man’s life. After collapsing from physical exhaustion and the extreme heat, he was given medical treatment. When he recovered, he refused further medical assistance in order to help consolidate his unit’s defensive positions. By his inspiring courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Sergeant Johann undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his comrades and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.