The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant William S. Johnson (MCSN: 1093068), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of a Mine Removal and Disposal Team of Company A, First Engineer Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 15 September 1950. Encountering a heavily mined area which had slowed up the advance of friendly elements operating against the enemy on Wolmi-do Island, Sergeant Johnson bravely led his team into the mine field ahead of the infantry and tank groups in the face of intense hostile automatic weapons and small arms fire and skillfully directed his unit in removing all enemy anti-personnel and anti-tank mines encountered in his assigned sector although lacking complete knowledge of their mechanisms. Under similar conditions of grave danger, he directed his team in removing all hostile mines from the causeway between Wolmi-do Island and Inchon, thereby contributing materially to the security of his battalion. By his courageous leadership, expert technical ability and inspiring devotion to duty, Sergeant Johnson was greatly instrumental in clearing the mine fields for the safe passage of advancing friendly troops and vehicles and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.