The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Ensign William L. Sutherland, Jr., United States Navy, for heroic conduct when the U.S.S. KAKAWHA (AO-1) was struck by bombs and set aflame, 7 April 1943. Ensign Sutherland observed the fire from a beach and promptly commandeered a boat on his own initiative and conducted a voluntary rescue mission. Maneuvering the craft to a point hazardously close to the blazing tanker, he picked up thirty survivors of the stricken vessel and returned them safely to the island.