The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Radioman Second Class William Russell Roberts, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism, courage, initiative and disregard of his own life while serving as radioman-gunner in a ship-based plane on 7 December 1941. While returning to port from a search mission at about 10:00 P.M. the plane crashed at sea approximately eight miles west of Barber’s Point, island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii. Radioman Second Class Roberts was rendered unconscious, receiving a severe cut in the head. Upon regaining consciousness he freed himself from the cockpit and his parachute, reached the surface of the water, and inflated his life jacket. After great difficulty due to darkness and heavy seas he located the plane and found his pilot in the cockpit unconscious with his right leg jammed between the seat and fuselage. Radioman Second Class Roberts succeeded in freeing him, inflated his life jacket, and placed him on a wing float. Although nearly drowned from being caught in the plane, Radioman Second Class Roberts, by repeated dives, freed the rubber life boat from the plane, placed his pilot therein and paddled for shore. Upon reaching the surf, the boat capsized and the pilot, still unconscious, was temporarily lost. Upon finding the pilot, Radioman Second Class Roberts dragged him ashore, made him as comfortable as possible and searched for assistance. After considerable hiking he obtained a truck, at about 1:00 A.M., for transportation to the hospital where Radioman Second Class Roberts required fifteen stitches to close his head wounds and treatment for other bruises and cuts. Later the pilot died. Radioman Second Class Roberts’ action on this occasion was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.