The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal to General Harold Keith Johnson (ASN: 0-19187), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility, during the period from August 1966 through July 1968. General Johnson untiringly guided and directed the United States Army in accomplishing with distinction every aspect of its diverse mission. His outstanding professional ability, breadth of vision, foresight, tenacity, tenacity and personal integrity were an inspiration to the entire Army. Under his leadership, the United States Army met successfully some of the greatest challenges of its proud history. Most noteworthy was the Army’s support of the accelerated buildup and deployment of forces to Southeast Asia concurrent with meeting other heavy demands overseas and in the continental United States. During this period the Active Army grew by more than one-quarter million men, and the Reserve Components were reorganized into a viable, ready force, responsive to strategic requirements. Through his perceptive direction and energetic follow-through of a comprehensive Army study program, General Johnson left a strong personal imprint on the Army logistic structure, the Army school system, Army tactical mobility, Army resource management, and doctrines and concepts in the broad area of land warfare. General Johnson was particularly concerned with the people in the Army, and he devoted himself untiringly to the needs of the individual. He accorded the highest priority to assuring that every soldier was superbly trained, that each had the opportunity to contribute to the full extent of his ability to the Army mission, and that each would be a better citizen as the result of his Army training and experience. General Johnson’s objectivity and sound judgment have won for him the admiration and respect of seniors, contemporaries, and subordinates alike. His exceptional leadership, marked by complete dedication and loyalty, and his sense of fairness, understanding, and consideration of others earned him respect throughout the Government. He demanded of himself excellence and effective performance; in others he inspired it. Above all, he was a team player, and he led the Army as a team toward a common goal — service to country. A grateful nation recognizes that General Johnson’s long and distinguished career during more than thirty-five years of devoted duty is in the finest traditions of the military profession. His selfless and dedicated service to the United States reflects the highest credit upon himself, the Army, and his country.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to General Harold Keith Johnson (ASN: 0-19187), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility, during the period from July 1964 to July 1966. As Chief of Staff, United States Army, during this period, General Johnson played a key role in the rapid expansion of the Army to meet the Communist threat in Vietnam while ensuring the Army’s ability to fulfill its many other commitments throughout the world. As the principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Army, he has provided a responsive, dynamic, and creative contribution to the solution of the numberless problems associated with a critical period of our Nation. Under his superb direction, the Army’s combat training program was significantly accelerated, and the logistical effort was geared to meet the requirements of newly-activated units and the growing number of troops in Vietnam. The complexities of the problems which confronted him during this critical period were compounded by the unexpected requirement for the United States Army to respond quickly to the call for troops in the Dominican Republic. In these and all aspects of the Army’s diverse operations, General Johnson has taken an intense personal interest in every activity and in the welfare of each officer and enlisted man. His efforts have consistently been aimed at putting the personal into personnel, and his concern for the individual soldier has endeared him to all members of the Army. General Johnson’s extraordinary service to country will have a lasting impact not only on the Army but on all our citizens, and his exceptional achievements reflect the highest credit upon himself, the United States Army, and the military service.