The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant William David Young (NSN: 0-735141), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism on the night of 6 August and early morning of 7 August 1972 while serving with Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SEVEN (HC-7), Detachment 110, embarked in U.S.S. SARATOGA (CVA-60). As Copilot of a combat rescue helicopter during nearly five hours of a coordinated search and rescue effort for a United States Navy pilot downed in North Vietnam, Lieutenant Young, in the face of intense enemy fire, rendered valuable assistance in carrying out a low-level flight with the helicopter’s landing lights turned on in order to facilitate the search. Although his aircraft was repeatedly hit by enemy ground fire, he continued the search until the downed airman was visually located and picked up. Lieutenant Young then flew back to the safety of SARATOGA at treetop level with his crippled aircraft. By his skilled airmanship, courage, and devotion to duty, he contributed materially to the success of an extremely hazardous rescue mission and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.