Wallace W. Johnson

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Wallace W. Johnson (471138), Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company B, Fourth Tank Battalion, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 28 February 1945. Realizing the seriousness of the situation when our troops were pinned down by intense hostile machine-gun fire, Corporal Johnson courageously made a reconnaissance one hundred yards into enemy-held territory to locate Japanese machine-gun and mortar emplacements. Returning to friendly lines, he led our tanks to positions twenty-five yards from the enemy installations and, taking a position at the rear of his platoon leader’s tank, braved extremely heavy mortar, hand grenade and rifle fire to direct the tanks in firing on the positions. On many occasions, he was forced to throw back into the enemy entrenchments the grenades which had been hurled close to his exposed position. By his courageous action, he was in large measure instrumental in the destruction of the Japanese emplacements, thereby enabling our forces to advance. Corporal Johnson’s initiative, gallant fighting spirit and aggressiveness were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.