The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade William Benjamin Sumpter, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy Catalina Patrol Plane in Patrol-Bombing Squadron THIRTY-THREE (VPB-33), in action on the night of 3 – 4 October 1944, while deployed over the North Celebes. While patrolling the Toli Toli Bay, Northern Celebes, during hazardous conditions of bright moonlight and under constant and intense anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Sumpter made a gallant and courageous glide bombing attack on a 6,000-ton KATORI Class light cruiser, scoring eight bomb hits, the resulting explosion causing the warship to burn furiously for twenty minutes and then sink. His actions on this occasion showed an extraordinarily high degree of outstanding aggressiveness and heroic coolness under fire, and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.