Ralph Henry Johnson
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

Private First Class Ralph Henry Johnson (11 January 1949 - 5 March 1968) was a U.S. Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in March 1968 during the Vietnam War. When a hand grenade was thrown into his fighting hole, he immediately covered it with his body - absorbing the full impact of the blast - sacrificing his life to save a fellow Marine and preventing the enemy from penetrating his patrol perimeter.

Ralph Johnson was born on 11 January 1949, in Charleston, SC. He attended Sinemonton Elementary School and Courtnay Elementary School in Charleston.

Johnson enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at Oakland, CA on 23 March 1967, and was discharged to enlist in the regular Marine Corps on 2 July 1967.

Upon completion of recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, MCRD San Diego, CA, in September 1967, he was transferred to the Camp Pendleton, CA. He underwent individual combat training with Company Y, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, and basic infantry training with the Basic Infantry Training Company, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, completing the latter in November 1967. He was promoted to Private First Class on 1 November 1967.

In January 1968, he arrived in the Republic of Vietnam, and served as a reconnaissance scout with Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

On 5 March 1968, while on Operation Rock, deep in enemy-held territory near the Quan Duc Valley, his 15-man reconnaissance patrol was attacked by a platoon-sized enemy force. When a hand grenade landed in the fighting hole he shared with fellow Marines, he yelled a warning and immediately covered the explosive charge with his body. He was killed instantly. His heroic actions on that day were recognized with a posthumous award of the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS RALPH H. JOHNSON
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a reconnaissance scout with Company A, First Reconnaissance Battalion, First Marine Division in action against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces in the Republic of Vietnam. In the early morning hours of 5 March 1968, during OPERATION ROCK, First Class Johnson was a member of a fifteen-man reconnaissance patrol manning an observation post on Hill 146 overlooking the Quan Duc Valley deep in enemy controlled territory. They were attacked by a platoon-size hostile force employing automatic weapons, satchel charges and hand grenades. Suddenly a hand grenade landed in the three- man fighting hole occupied by Private First Class Johnson and two fellow Marines. Realizing the inherent danger to his comrades, he shouted a warning and unhesitatingly hurled himself upon the explosive device. When the grenade exploded, Private First Class Johnson absorbed the tremendous impact of the blast and was killed instantly. His prompt and heroic act saved the life of one Marine at the cost of his own and undoubtedly prevented the enemy from penetrating his sector of the patrol's perimeter. Private First Class Johnson's courage inspiring valor and selfless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm
Vietnamese Military Merit Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Ralph Henry Johnson's name is inscribed on Panel 43E, Line 008.

Honors

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, SC, formerly the Charleston VA Medical Center, was renamed in honor of PFC Johnson, with a formal dedication on 5 September 1991. Johnson's Medal of Honor, along with his Medal of Honor citation and a portrait of him, is framed and on public display at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center's front lobby.

Death and Burial

Private First Class Ralph H. Johnson was killed in action on 5 March 1968. He is buried at the Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, SC, in Section 3, Grave 21.