The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [the Lieutenant, Junior Grade] William Stone Woollen (NSN: 0-81567), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron THREE (VF-3), attached to the U.S.S. SARATOGA (CV-3), during the “Air Battle of Midway,” against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Woollen, while flying combat air patrol over our surface ships as Section Leader, led the initial attack upon an eighteen-plane formation of Japanese dive bombers and fighters. Being unaware of the fact that other friendly planes had also sighted the enemy, he courageously attacked the formation from a head-on position and, in this single attack, personally shot down an enemy dive-bomber. By this courageous action, confusion in the enemy formations was caused to develop so that their attack formation was broken up. He returned to again attack the enemy, who were now being engaged by other friendly planes, and succeeded in damaging another enemy dive bomber, with the ultimate result unknown. Thereafter during the same action with the enemy, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Woollen, in a courageous attack upon a two-section formation of five enemy planes, succeeded in personally destroying one enemy torpedo plane before he was himself shot down into the sea. His outstanding bravery, skill and courage in attacking superior enemy forces, with utter disregard for personal safety, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.