The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Ellis Jay Fisher, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy PBY-5 Patrol Plane in Patrol Squadron THIRTY-FOUR (VP-34), during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Bismarck Sea, from 31 December 1943 to 13 February 1944. Engaging in numerous armed reconnaissance missions against Japanese shipping, Lieutenant Commander Fisher gallantly participated in many attacks on heavily escorted enemy convoys, sinking a large merchant vessel, a large tanker and five motor launches, inflicting heavy damage on an escort vessel, a large tanker and a large merchant vessel, probably destroying an armed enemy vessel and a midget submarine and, thereby contributing greatly to the destruction of enemy shipping. His professional skill, cool courage and unwavering devotion to duty which enabled him to complete his mission successfully, reflected the highest credit upon Lieutenant Commander Fisher and the United States Naval Service.