The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class William Winfield Colgan, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving as a Medical Corpsman with the Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Peleliu, Palau Islands, on 4 October 1944. Realizing that many wounded men were pinned down by intense enemy machine-gun, rifle and mortar fire, Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Colgan unhesitatingly proceeded far in front of his own lines in order to administer first aid to the casualties. When our troops were forced to withdraw from untenable positions, he courageously exposed himself to a withering barrage from Japanese guns and directed the men to take cover until a protective smoke screen could be lowered, then skillfully supervised evacuation of the wounded until he was fatally struck down by Japanese fire. Pharmacist’s Mate Colgan’s daring initiative and great personal valor in the face of grave peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.