The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Stephen Noel Tackney (NSN: 0-62121), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer-Mine Layer U.S.S. GAMBLE (DM-15), during attacks on an enemy Japanese submarine in the Solomon Islands Area on 29 August 1942. While escorting ships supplying our newly-seized bases, Lieutenant Commander Tackney skillfully sighted and located by sound-search an enemy submarine lurking in the vicinity. For a period of four hours he made persistent and determined attacks against the Japanese craft. Although warned of an imminent hostile air assault, Lieutenant Commander Tackney and the men under his command dauntlessly continued their action until oil and wreckage on the surface mutely convinced them of the submarine’s destruction. Lieutenant Commander Tackney’s leadership, skill, and outstanding devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself, his men, and the United States Naval Service.