The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
JOHNSON, DWIGHT H.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fifth
Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 1st Battalion, 69th Armor, 4th Infantry Division. Place
and date: Near Dak To, Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, 15 January 1968. Entered
service at: Detriot, Mich. Born: 7 May 1947, Detroit, Mich.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty. Sp5c. Johnson, a tank driver with Company B, was a member of a reaction
force moving to aid other elements of his platoon, which was in heavy contact with a
battalion size North Vietnamese force. Sp5c. Johnson's tank, upon reaching the point of
contact, threw a track and became immobilized. Realizing that he could do no more as a
driver, he climbed out of the vehicle, armed only with a .45 caliber pistol. Despite
intense hostile fire, Sp5c. Johnson killed several enemy soldiers before he had expended
his ammunition. Returning to his tank through a heavy volume of antitank rocket, small
arms and automatic weapons fire, he obtained a submachinegun with which to continue his
fight against the advancing enemy. Armed with this weapon, Sp5c. Johnson again braved
deadly enemy fire to return to the center of the ambush site where he courageously
eliminated more of the determined foe. Engaged in extremely close combat when the last of
his ammunition was expended, he killed an enemy soldier with the stock end of his
submachinegun. Now weaponless, Sp5c. Johnson ignored the enemy fire around him, climbed
into his platoon sergeant's tank, extricated a wounded crewmember and carried him to an
armored personnel carrier. He then returned to the same tank and assisted in firing the
main gun until it jammed. In a magnificent display of courage, Sp5c. Johnson exited the
tank and again armed only with a .45 caliber pistol, engaged several North Vietnamese
troops in close proximity to the vehicle. Fighting his way through devastating fire and
remounting his own immobilized tank, he remained fully exposed to the enemy as he bravely
and skillfully engaged them with the tank's externally-mounted .50 caliber machinegun;
where he remained until the situation was brought under control. Sp5c. Johnson's profound
concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty
are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great
credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
|
