The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant William John Read, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy as a Coast Watcher in action against enemy forces in the Southwest Pacific Area during the period from 16 March 1942 to 1 October 1942. The intrepidity and unselfish devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Read reflect highest credit upon himself and the Allied Forces. (A complete citation of the actions for which the award to this officer is made cannot be published at this time for reasons of military secrecy).
NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Lieutenant Read was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost overlooking the Buka Passage on the north side of Bougainville Island for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese air and ship activity.