The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Boatswain’s Mate First Class Willard C. Cannaday, Jr., United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving on board the Heavy Cruiser U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38), in the action against Japanese naval forces in the Solomon Islands area on the night of 12 – 13 November 1942. Boatswain’s Mate First Class Cannaday was in charge of the upper powder room and, when a shell hit rupturing the sprinkling system, deluging him, his crew, and the powder, he wiped off the powder bags with rags, and dried them in order that the ammunition could be used. Later, when the lower powder room was flooded, he organized fire-fighting and rescue parties and contributed greatly to the preservation of the ship. Boatswain’s Mate First Class Cannaday’s gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.