The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Colonel (Air Corps) William A. Hatcher, Jr. (ASN: 0-21528), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while leading a combat wing of B-17 Flying Fortress Bombers of the EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy on a bombing mission on 31 December 1943. Flying the lead aircraft, Colonel Hatcher found his target completely obscured by heavy cloud cover. Realizing a successful attack could not be made under the circumstances, he led his wing through heavy fighter assaults to a secondary target. His formation destroyed the alternate target, with Colonel Hatcher’s plane maintaining its position as lead ship despite a wall of flak. When the bombing was over he dropped out of formation, his plane severely damaged by the flank. The plane went down shortly after and he was taken prisoner of war. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Colonel Hatcher, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.