Per fess wavy Celeste, and Azure overall, within five mullets in the pattern of the Southern Cross Constellation, a trident erect couped at its base Or, and emitting a flame to base Proper, all within a narrow bordure of the third.
Issuant from a wreath of the colors Or and Azure, a representation of the Buddhist dragon king imagery throughout Vietnamese folklore Proper, above and centered a mullet in fess of the first.
Four swords, two and two in saltire points down Proper. On dexter side a USN Officer sword and a USN CPO cutlass; on the sinister side a USMC Officer Mameluke and a USMC NCO sword.
On a folded scroll Azure, doubled Or, the inscription: "CELER SILENS MORTALIS" ("Swift Silent Deadly") in Gold letters.
The colors dark blue and gold are traditional colors associated with the United States Navy. The Celeste (light blue) represents the Medal of Honor blue, and the dark blue with the five stars in the formation of the Southern Cross comes from the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion patch, signifying PFC Johnson's service in the United States Marine Corps. The trident is a traditional naval symbol, and the flame emission symbolizes the Integrated Air and Missile Defense system aboard the ship.
The symbolic Vietnamese dragon is associated with water and is considered to have authority over life and death. Dragons are responsible for rain, without which life could not continue. The one star annotates the life Ralph Johnson saved during his heroic action that earned him the Medal of Honor.
Navy Officer sword, Navy Chief Petty Officer cutlass, Marine Corps Officer Mameluke, and Marine Corps Noncommissioned Officer sword.
The coat of arms as blazoned in full color on a white oblong disc within a dark blue designation band, edged with a gold roped border and bearing the name "USS RALPH JOHNSON" at the top and "DDG 114" at the base.