The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander William Clayton Butler, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as Secondary Battery Control Officer on board the Light Cruiser U.S.S. BOISE (CL-47), during action against enemy Japanese naval forces off Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on the night of 11 – 12 October 1942. Gallantly exposing himself to enemy gunfire throughout the action, Lieutenant Commander Butler, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, controlled the Secondary Battery and searchlights from the open control station. On one occasion, when a salvo of 8-inch shells struck the ship and drove him away from his post by fire, he immediately returned and, despite imminent danger of explosion of the forward group of magazines, carried on faithfully and tirelessly until completion of the action. His cool courage and conscientious devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.