The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Charles E. Johnson (MCSN: 853722), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as a squad leader with Company G, Third Battalion, Twenty-Ninth Marines, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 6 June 1945. Taking charge of the situation after his platoon leader and a number of his comrades had become casualties during an attack on a strongly defended enemy position, Private First Class Johnson reorganized the platoon which was being held up by heavy hostile machine-gun fire. Then, aggressively leading the final assault on the objective, he personally charged two enemy machine guns with a rocket launcher and, firing at point-blank range, destroyed both of the guns and their crews. After his platoon had occupied the hill, Private First Class Johnson courageously exposed himself to hostile fire to assist in sealing three cave positions from which the Japanese had been holding up the advance of adjacent Marine units. His gallant fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.