The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant, Junior Grade William T. Patton, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against the enemy while serving with Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-SIX (VA-176), embarked in U.S.S. INTREPID (CVS-11), in Southeast Asia on 9 October 1966. During rescue of a downed Navy pilot and his crewman, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Patton and his section leader led a helicopter into an area of heavy ground fire and within a surface-to-air missile environment. He suppressed the enemy with strafing attacks and succeeded in destroying an enemy jet aircraft which was attacking helicopters attempting to make the rescue.