The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant John Harlan Stickell, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy PB4Y Patrol Plane of Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED EIGHT (VB-108), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Marshall Islands on 12 December 1943. Lieutenant Stickell volunteered to participate in a hazardous two-plane bombing strike against an underground oil storage at Jabor, Jaluit Atoll. Although seriously wounded en route while destroying numerous hostile installation, he continued to his target where he scored a direct hit upon Japanese oil storage before his injuries forced him to relinquish the controls. Knowing of the danger to his plane and crew in attempting to land on the narrow runway at Tarawa, he directed his copilot to proceed to another base several hundred miles away, stoically enduring the intense pain of his wounds which later proved fatal. Lieutenant Stickell’s outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.