The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant William Pratt Marontate (MCSN: 0-9410), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-121), Marine Air Group FOURTEEN (MAG-14), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area during a period of intense enemy activity from 9 October 1942 to 15 January 1943. During his first tour of duty in this area, First Lieutenant Marontate, as pilot of a fighter plane, led his four-plane division of the flight with such aggressive skill that fifty-six enemy aircraft were destroyed, he personally accounting for nine hostile aircraft. On 5 January leading a section of fighter planes as protection for a task force, he gallantly fought off enemy aircraft which were attacking our vessels and brought down two Japanese dive bombers and one Zero. While escorting a striking force of dive bombers on January 15 in an attack against enemy shipping off New Georgia Island, he succeeded in destroying at least one enemy aircraft before he was shot down by Japanese fighter planes. His superb airmanship, great courage, and fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.