Medal of Honor: Dwight H. Johnson – Vietnam War – Kontum Province – January 1968

Name: Dwight H. Johnson
Rank: Specialist Fifth Class
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 69th Armor, 4th Infantry Division
Place: Near Dak To, Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: Detroit, Michigan
Born: Detroit, Michigan

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Summary of Action

On 15 January 1968, Specialist Fifth Class Dwight H. Johnson was serving as a tank driver with Company B, 1st Battalion, 69th Armor, during combat operations near Dak To in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. His platoon was moving as part of a reaction force to assist friendly elements engaged in heavy combat with a battalion-sized North Vietnamese Army force.

As his tank reached the point of contact, it threw a track and became immobilized under intense enemy fire. Recognizing that he could no longer fight as a driver, Specialist Johnson climbed out of the disabled vehicle armed only with a .45-caliber pistol. Exposing himself to intense small-arms, automatic-weapons, and antitank rocket fire, he moved into the enemy position and killed several North Vietnamese soldiers until his ammunition was exhausted.

Undeterred, Specialist Johnson fought his way back through the fire to his tank, obtained a submachine gun, and returned again to the center of the ambush site. There, in extremely close combat, he continued engaging the enemy. When his ammunition ran out once more, he killed an enemy soldier by striking him with the stock of his weapon.

Now weaponless, Specialist Johnson ignored the continuing fire and climbed into his platoon sergeant’s tank, where he extricated a wounded crewman and carried him to an armored personnel carrier. He then returned to the tank and assisted in firing its main gun until it jammed. Exiting the tank once again, armed only with a .45-caliber pistol, he engaged enemy soldiers at close range.

In a final act of extraordinary bravery, Specialist Johnson mounted his own immobilized tank and, fully exposed to enemy fire, manned the externally mounted .50-caliber machine gun. From this position he delivered devastating fire on the enemy until the situation was brought under control. His fearless actions repeatedly placed him in mortal danger and directly contributed to the survival of his fellow soldiers and the successful defense of the position.

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Medal of Honor 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 sub-machine gun 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 submachine gun. 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 machine gun; 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, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.