The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Homer Ellis Johnson (MCSN: 0-52082), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Patrol Leader of Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 26 July 1952. After directing an assault upon a strongly fortified enemy position, Second Lieutenant Johnson discovered that a member of his patrol was missing and courageously exposed himself to hostile small arms, grenade and mortar fire in an effort to locate the man. Arriving at the main line of resistance, he voluntarily led a patrol back to the scene and succeeded in locating the missing Marine. Unable to remove the body to friendly lines because of the intense enemy fire, the unit was forced to abandon it in a position from which it was removed to friendly lines by another patrol the following day. By his exceptional leadership, marked courage and unyielding devotion to duty, Second Lieutenant Johnson served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.