The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Donald Morison White, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron NINE (VT-9), in action against the enemy on 11 November 1943, over Rabaul Harbor, New Britain. Despite the intense anti-aircraft fire, adverse weather conditions, and heavy enemy fighter plane opposition, Lieutenant Commander White led his squadron into a position from which it obtained seven torpedo hits on five heavy cruisers, one hit on a light cruiser, and one hit on a destroyer which sank. Out of eighteen torpedoes released, nine scored hits one of which was launched by Lieutenant Commander White. In an enemy counter-air-attack on the Task Force later in the day, he and his squadron assisted in repelling the enemy aircraft, although their planes were not suited for this type of action. In this engagement three enemy fighter planes were destroyed by pilots of his squadron. His outstanding leadership and excellent training program contributed materially to the destruction of enemy forces, and to the defense of our Task Group. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.