The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade William Walter Gorham (NSN: 0-347559), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber of Bombing Squadron EIGHTY-THREE (VB-83), attached to the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), in action against major units of the Japanese Fleet at Yokosuka, Tokyo Bay, Japan, on 18 July 1945. Skillfully maneuvering his aircraft in a dive-bombing attack on an enemy battleship, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Gorham pressed home his attack in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire and scored a direct hit at the assigned aiming point, thereby contributing materially to the infliction of damage on the warship. His airmanship, courage and determination throughout the attack were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.