![]() Dwight H. Johnson Sergeant, United States Army |
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Born
at Detroit, Michigan, May 7, 1947, Dwight H. Johnson earned the Medal of
Honor in Vietnam while serving as Specialist 5th Class with Company B,
1st Battalion, 69th Armor, 4th Infantry Division near Dak To, Kontum Province,
Republic of Vietnam on January 15, 1968.
His life ended tragically after his return to the United States. He had been assigned to the Army Recruiting Agency in the Detroit area and also served as an Army Public Affairs Representative. On the evening of April 30, 1971, he was shot to death while attempting to holdup as liquor store in Detroit. He was subsequently buried in Section 31 of
Arlington National Cemetery.
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, Michigan. Born: 7 May 1947, Detroit, Michigan. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Specialist 5 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. Specialist 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, Specialist 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, Specialist 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, Specialist 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, Specialist Johnson
exited the tank and again armed only with a .45 caliber pistol,
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. Specialist 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 United States Army.
![]() Photo courtesy of Raymond L. Collins
JOHNSON, DWIGHT H
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Robert Patterson
Updated: 30 September 2000 Updated: 15 March 2003 Updated: 22 December 2005 Updated: 6 April 2006 |
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