The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander William John Millican (NSN: 0-62082), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. THRESHER (SS-200), on the FOURTH, FIFTH, and SIXTH War Patrols of that submarine during the period 26 June 1942 to 10 January 1943, in an area entirely controlled by enemy Japanese air and naval forces. Although opposed by heavy enemy forces, Lieutenant Commander Millican pressed home his attacks with vigor and skillful determination and succeeded in sinking 26,000 tons of enemy shipping by accurate gunfire, in probably sinking 11,000 tons and in damaging another 11,000 tons without substantial damage to materiel or injury to the personnel of his command. The courageous devotion to duty of Lieutenant Commander Millican and the men under his command and their tenacious fighting spirit enabled the THRESHER to evade the enemy’s vigorous countermeasures and complete an aggressive and successful mission.