The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander Clarence Edward Aldrich (NSN: 24764), United States Navy, for heroism and meritorious service as Damage Control Officer and First Lieutenant onboard the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in the Battle of Midway, 4 – 6 June 1942. During and following a severe bombing attack on 4 June, he directed and led fire parties, extinguishing four serious fires below decks without thought to his personal safety, although one of these fires was immediately adjacent to the magazines and the gasoline stowage. After the ship was attacked by torpedoes he continued calmly to furnish the captain with complete information on damage control although all lights in the ship were extinguished, and the compartment immediately adjacent to his battle station in Central Station had been flooded as a result of a torpedo explosion. Finally, when ordered by the Captain to abandon ship, he directed the lowering of wounded into life rafts in a calm and efficient manner. As a volunteer member of the party which attempted to salvage the ship on 6 June, he was principally responsible for directing damage control efforts toward salvage. He successfully directed the extinguishing of a fire which had been burning adjacent to the gasoline stowage area since 4 June, and the other salvage operations which resulted in the removal of two degrees of the ship’s dangerous list. Without regard for personal safety he entered and inspected damage in many compartments throughout the ship and was so engaged when thrown violently to the deck and wounded by the explosion of two torpedoes fired by an enemy submarine. Although his right arm was broken by the force of his fall, he volunteered to return to the ship the following day to continue direction of salvage operations. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.