The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Alan Boyd Banister (NSN: 0-62009), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. SAWFISH (SS-276), on the SEVENTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 22 June 1944 to 15 August 1944, in enemy controlled waters. While on submarine patrol, despite unusually alert air screens maintained around a large enemy tanker of 9,500 tons, Commander Banister aggressively delivered a series of skillfully executed torpedo attacks to damage the tanker, before being forced to deep submergence by severe aerial bombing which prevented further attacks. Later, on 26 July 1944, Commander Banister contacted an enemy submarine of 1,900 tons. Sizing up the situation and realizing the necessity of an immediate attack, he aggressively delivered a spread of four torpedoes, three of which were direct hits and resulted in the sinking of this important enemy combatant unit. In spite of the severe enemy counterattacks, his intelligent and skillful evasive tactics enabled him to bring his ship to port undamaged. Commander Banister’s conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.