The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Colin Jack MacKenzie (NSN: 0-73524), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. WILSON (DD-408), in operations against enemy Japanese forces, while escorting a resupply Echelon between Leyte Gulf and Mangarin Bay, Mindoro, Philippine Islands, from 27 December 1944 to 2 January 1945. Instantly proceeding to the assistance of a merchant ship in his convoy group which had been hit by a Japanese suicide plane and was afire, Commander MacKenzie skillfully directed the WILSON’s fire-fighting crews and, in the face of great danger from ammunition exploding on the vessel and under constant threat by enemy aircraft, succeeded in extinguishing the flames and in subsequently preparing the abandoned ship for salvage. In another phase of the same action, Commander MacKenzie again went to the aid of a blazing destroyer and, gallantly bringing the WILSON alongside the vessel despite the hazards of burning depth charges and ammunition explosions, rendered invaluable service in preventing the destruction of the ship. Constantly alert and persevering in his efforts during a savage four-day battle with enemy aircraft which menaced his task unit, he contributed materially to the destruction of thirty-seven hostile planes and assisted in fighting off the attacks of numerous others. His expert ship handling, skilled combat tactics and courageous leadership throughout this hazardous mission reflect the highest credit upon Commander MacKenzie and the United States Naval Service.