The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade William Allen Johnson (NSN: 0-667852), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during operations over hostile North Vietnamese territory on 12 August 1966. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Johnson was the wingman in a two-plane section of aircraft which had been assigned routine surveillance over a large tanker. As the section approached the tanker, it was discovered that the four large POL barges which had been alongside it were now under tow by a large tug boat, which was making its way toward the shelter of the nearby islands. Having determined that the barges were within striking distance from the tanker, the section leader, followed by Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Johnson, initiated a dive-bombing attack. A direct hit on the third barge by Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Johnson resulted in an explosion which created a large fireball, spreading burning fuel over the stricken craft and ignited the two adjacent barges. The resulting loss in petroleum is considered to have contributed materially to the reduction in the flow of men and materials to the insurgent forces in South Vietnam.