The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant James R. Johnson (MCSN: 1859910), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company D, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, THIRD Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. Shortly after midnight on 2 September 1968, while occupying a night defensive position in a bomb crater south of Khe Sanh, Staff Sergeant Johnson’s patrol was attacked by a North Vietnamese Army Company. Rapidly assessing the situation, he immediately assisted the patrol leader in alerting his men as the team’s two man listening post withdrew in the face of the numerically superior enemy force. Instructing the radio operator to initiate a request for artillery and flare ship support, Staff Sergeant Johnson alertly located the hostile soldiers and skillfully, adjusted fires on their positions. Realizing that his radio operator was unarmed, he fearlessly protected him as he continued to accurately control supporting arms fires to within fifty meters of the Marine position. Completely disregarding his own safety, he repeatedly exposed himself to the intense enemy fire as he calmly moved among the men, encouraging them and ensuring that they had adequate ordnance. His resolute determination and bold initiative inspired all who served with him and were instrumental in the patrol repulsing the North Vietnamese Army Company and accounting for twenty-five enemy killed. By his courage, aggressive leadership and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Staff Sergeant Johnson upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.