The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Ken H. Johnson (MCSN: 0-84925), United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Observation Squadron TWO (VMO-2), Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 17 August 1969, Captain Johnson launched as Tactical Air Controller (Airborne) aboard an OV-10 Bronco aircraft assigned the mission of supporting the emergency re-supply of a Marine reconnaissance team which was heavily engaged in combat with a hostile force while manning an observation post on Ba Na Mountain in Quang Nam Province. Two previous attempts to deliver ammunition and other supplies had been aborted because of the intensity of the hostile fire. Arriving over the designated area, Captain Johnson found that the ceiling over the landing zone was 200 feet and continuing to lower and that the beleaguered team was pinned down by the heavy volume of enemy fire. When F-4 Phantom aircraft arrived on station, he briefed the pilots concerning the ground situation and directed them to execute two low-altitude simulated firing passes to assure proper target identification because of the proximity of the opposing units. Undaunted by the shifting clouds and low ceiling which forced him to mark the target prior to each air strike and the extremely intense hostile fire directed at his Bronco during each marking run, Captain Johnson skillfully coordinated and controlled the repeated bombing runs with such precision that all of the ordnance was delivered upon the target with pinpoint accuracy. As a result of the devastating attacks, the enemy fire was suppressed sufficiently to enable the transport aircraft to enter the precarious zone and deliver the vitally needed supplies. Captain Johnson’s courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in the accomplishment of the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.