The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant William Thomas Williams, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron FORTY-SEVEN (VT-47), attached to the U.S.S. BATAAN (CVL-29), during an attack on 7 April 1945 against a Japanese Task Force, steaming in the East China Sea, off the Japan mainland islands of Kyushu. Lieutenant Williams skillfully and courageously piloted his aircraft and led his division in a torpedo attack against major units of the enemy Task Force including a heavy battleship, cruisers and destroyers. During the action he attacked the battleship, and in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft as well as main battery gun fire, scored a direct torpedo hit which contributed materially to the sinking of the vessel immediately after the attack. His skill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.