Dwight H. Johnson-Arlington, VA
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member Don.Morfe
N 38° 52.950 W 077° 04.206
18S E 320441 N 4305774
Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient for action near Dak To, Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam on January 15, 1968. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Section 31, Site 471.
Waymark Code: WMXQ3T
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 02/11/2018
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member wayfrog
Views: 0

He was born on May 7, 1947 in Detroit, MI and died on April 30, 1971 in Detroit MI. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: 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.
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 are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
Armed Service: Army

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Don.Morfe visited Dwight H. Johnson-Arlington, VA 12/17/2021 Don.Morfe visited it