The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Lewis E. Johnston (MCSN: 329453), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity during action against enemy Japanese forces while serving with the First Marine Raider Battalion on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on September 12, 1942. After he had been wounded in combat with hostile troops, Private First Class Johnston, along with others who were injured, was placed in a truck for removal to the hospital. When the vehicle, en route to the rear, was viciously machine-gunned by Japanese troops, he courageously disregarded his own painful condition, removed the disabled driver and, after a tense delay due to engine failure, managed to start the truck and pull out of the battle area. His prompt and heroic action, performed at great personal risk in the face of grave danger, undoubtedly saved the lives of several wounded men who otherwise might have perished.