Howard W. Johnson’s FIRST Silver Star citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

FIRST LIEUTENANT HOWARD W. JOHNSON,
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Platoon Leader, attached to Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty-third Marines, Fourth Marine Division, during operations against Japanese forces on Saipan, Marianas Islands, from 15 June to 9 July 1944. When the enemy counterattacked the flank position held by his platoon, First Lieutenant Johnson daringly directed the defense, exposing himself to heavy fire and helping annihilate in hand-to-hand conflict the Japanese who penetrated the position. Later, in an attack against a ridge, when the platoon was pinned down by close range machinegun fire, he stood directly in the line of fire to move his men to more favorable positions, unhesitatingly moving in front of the lines to carry wounded to safety, and calmly continuing to direct his platoon after his rifle was knocked out of his hands by hostile fire. His resolute courage, aggressive spirit and untiring devotion to duty served to instill confidence in his men and reflect the highest credit upon First Lieutenant Johnson and the United States Naval Service.

For the President,
/s/ James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy