The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Harry Clinton Stevenson (NSN: 0-63227), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. ASPRO (SS-309), in action on 15 December 1943, during the FIRST War Patrol of that submarine in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific War Area. On 15 December 1943, Commander Stevenson sighted a three-ship convoy with two destroyer escorts. Tracking this convoy, he attacked with the result that a tanker of 7,300 tons was damaged. Again on the night of 17 – 18 December 1943, he contacted a heavily escorted convoy of fifteen ships. Tenaciously pursuing this convoy for two-and-one-half hours, he reached a favorable attack position. Attacking with bow and stern tubes, he succeeded in sinking the largest ship of the convoy, a transport of 11,620 tons, two large freighters of 7,000 tons each, and damaging a tanker of 10,050 tons. He then skillfully retired and five hours later followed up with another smashing attack upon the same scattered convoy, damaging two large freighters of 7,000 tons each, one of which probably sank later. By his courage and determination throughout this patrol, he succeeded in sinking over 25,600 tons and damaging 31,400 tons of enemy shipping. His conduct throughout was outstanding and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.