The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander William Lacey Lamberson (NSN: 0-81113), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Commanding Officer of Fighting Squadron THREE (VF-3), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-10), in action against enemy Japanese shipping, aircraft and ground installations, at Saigon, French Indo-China, on 12 January 1945. Intercepted by a strong force of Japanese aircraft while leading his flight in a bombing and strafing mission against this heavily fortified Japanese stronghold, Lieutenant Commander Lamberson fought a gallant battle against tremendous odds and personally shot down two of the hostile planes. Proceeding to the assigned target area, he boldly countered the enemy’s intense, concentrated anti-aircraft fire to direct a brilliantly executed strike against Japanese shipping and pressed home his own daring attack to score a direct hit on an important merchant vessel. Boldly leading his planes in a determined strafing run against a hostile airfield immediately thereafter, he personally destroyed two grounded aircraft during the fierce engagement and obtained photographs of inestimable value to our forces in planning for and executing subsequent attacks. A forceful leader and superb airman, Lieutenant Commander Lamberson contributed materially to the extensive and costly damage inflicted on vital enemy targets and his valiant devotion to the completion of each hazardous mission was an essential factor in the success of our air operations in the Pacific War Area. His cool courage throughout was an inspiration to all with whom he served and reflects the highest credit upon Lieutenant Commander Lamberson, his intrepid command and the United States Naval Service.