(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Chief Torpedoman’s Mate Ray J. McKenna, United States Navy, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroic conduct while serving aboard a United States Submarine during a war patrol in enemy controlled waters during World War II, for his outstanding leadership and performance of duty.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Chief Torpedoman’s Mate Ray J. McKenna, United States Navy, for heroic conduct on 10 February 1943, while serving aboard the U.S.S. GUDGEON (SS-211) during the SIXTH War Patrol of that submarine in enemy-controlled waters near the Island of Timor. On that date, Chief Torpedoman’s Mate McKenna and three comrades crossed rough seas from their ship in a rubber boat, landed on a strange enemy-controlled island, and made possible the rescue of twenty-eight stranded Australian commandos.