The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Torpedoman’s Mate First Class William E. Ledford, United States Navy, for heroic conduct during war patrols in enemy controlled waters during World War II. In charge of the forward torpedo room of a United States Submarine during three war patrols. Torpedoman’s Mate First Class Ledford, through expert performance of his duties, assisted materially in the sinking of an important amount of Japanese shipping.