The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander William N. Donnelly, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR (VF-154), embarked in U.S.S. CORAL SEA (CVA-43), on 29 March 1965. As an element leader of an attack strike group, Commander Donnelly was given the task of leading his aircraft on rocket attacks against a prime target on Bach Long Vi Island, North Vietnam. In the face of heavy enemy ground fire, he led the flight in a diving rocket attack directly on the assigned target, delivering punishing direct hits and inflicting severe damage. Although his aircraft was hit by enemy ground fire, he chose to make another attack. As he was entering his second rocket attack, the aircraft controls froze and he was forced to eject at very low altitude, inverted, at an airspeed of approximately 400 knots, four miles north of the target island. An extensive search was organized, which resulted in his recovery by seaplane 44 hours later. During this two-day period, although painfully injured and stranded in the immediate vicinity of the enemy island, he managed to evade the enemy search boats. By his perseverance, determination and devotion to duty, Commander Donnelly upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.