Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Allen Johnson, U.S. Army retired, Fort Smith, has received numerous awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal for exceptionally meritorious combat achievement, and the Meritorious Service Medal among others. Mr. Johnson enlisted in 1962 and served a combat tour in Vietnam. He was discharged six years later at the rank of Staff Sergeant. Subsequently, he entered the Army's Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Flight Training program, graduating in 1969. He requested assignment as a medical evacuation pilot and was deployed to Vietnam, where he flew Huey helicopters.

The following is the narrative for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross:

Dates of action: May 20-21, 1970

Theater: Republic of Vietnam

For heroism while participating in aerial flight, evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty. Warrant Officer Johnson distinguished himself while commanding a helicopter ambulance during rush operations in the A Shau Valley. Responding to an urgent request to evacuate American soldiers wounded in combat with a large hostile force, Warrant Officer Johnson and his crew entered the embattled area despite receiving enemy fire. He successfully landed his helicopter, picked up the wounded personnel, and evacuated them, returning multiple times amidst enemy fusillades until all casualties were safely aboard. After delivering the wounded to an aid station, he returned to the contact area to extract six injured ground troops under constant enemy mortar fire.

The following morning, Mr. Johnson encountered thick cloud cover that made the rescue attempt extremely hazardous due to the aircraft's vulnerability to sniper fire when flying below the clouds. Undaunted, Warrant Officer Johnson skillfully navigated his airship into the zone and successfully secured the remaining casualties. His outstanding piloting ability and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. Mr. Johnson and his crew successfully evacuated 17 American troops to an intermediate medical facility.