The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain [then Commander] William Evans A. Mullan (NSN: 0-55945), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Executive Officer of the U.S.S. VINCENNES (CA-44), during action against enemy Japanese forces off Savo Island on 9 August 1942. While his ship was being subjected to tremendous bombardment by hostile torpedoes and shellfire, Captain Mullan, although painfully incapacitated by a broken leg and a badly injured arm, lay on deck just inboard of a 5-inch gun shield and effectively directed fire-fighting operations. Refusing to be evacuated during the course of the engagement, he carried on with game endurance and utter disregard of personal safety until the VINCENNES was eventually put out of action and all hope of saving her was gone. One of the last to abandon the sinking ship, he was placed in a life jacket and lowered over the side only a few minutes before the vessel went down. His relentless fighting spirit, maintained above and beyond the call of duty, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.