The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant James Charles Dempsey (NSN: 0-70132), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. SPEARFISH (SS-190), on the THIRD War Patrol of that submarine during the period 27 March 1943 to 20 May 1943, in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific War Area. Due to his expert seamanship and courageous tactics, Lieutenant Dempsey succeeded in entering waters closely patrolled by enemy Japanese air and surface forces to attack and destroy an armed naval auxiliary vessel and a large cargo type ship, undetected by the enemy and without damage to the vessel under his command. Furthermore, while engaged on a special mission, he penetrated enemy patrol lines, defied close range artillery barrage and effected the evacuation of many personnel of the United States armed forces beleaguered on an island under constant enemy attack. He then coolly and skillfully extricated his vessel from this critical and perilous situation. In these actions, Lieutenant Dempsey manifested a courageous and determined spirit of offensive action, thus sustaining the best traditions of the United States Naval Service.