The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Andrew Jewel Hill (NSN: 0-70153), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. NICHOLAS (DD-449), during operations in Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands, on 5 and 6 July 1943. As leader of a task force in close support of the landing of United States troops at Rice Anchorage on New Georgia Island, Lieutenant Commander Hill skillfully maneuvered his ship through restricted submarine-infested waters and effectively bombarded enemy shore batteries and installations in the face of intense hostile gun and torpedo fire. Twenty-four hours later, the same task group participated in a fierce engagement with a numerically superior Japanese naval force and succeeded in sinking or severely damaging all of the hostile vessels. When a cruiser of his group was sunk, Lieutenant Commander Hill, returning to the scene with another destroyer, assisted materially in the hazardous rescue operations and enabled the NICHOLAS to save approximately three hundred survivors, despite the fact that the destroyers were forced to abandon their efforts on three occasions in order to attack and sink two enemy vessels and badly damage a third as they attempted to escape from the vicinity. Lieutenant Commander Hill’s inspiring leadership and the valiant devotion to duty of his command contributed in large measure to the outstanding success of these vital missions and reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service.

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 Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] Andrew Jewel Hill (NSN: 0-70153), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. NICHOLAS (DD-449), during operations in the Solomon Islands Area on the night of 17 – 18 August 1943. When an enemy Japanese force of four destroyers and a large number of landing barges endeavored under cover of night to reinforce the enemy garrisons in the Vella Lavella-Kolombangara Area, Lieutenant Commander Hill, with exceptional tactical skill under relentless gun and torpedo fire, led the NICHOLAS in a brilliant interception of the hostile vessels. He fought his ship gallantly and contributed to the destruction of two destroyers, severe damage to a third and the annihilation of a number of landing barges. Having routed the enemy, he brought his vessel through this vital engagement unscathed. The superb leadership and unflinching courage displayed by Commander Hill and the loyal devotion to duty of his crew reflect great credit upon the United Stats Naval Service.