The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] William Thomas Doyle, Jr. (NSN: 0-63123/1100), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Executive Officer of the U.S.S. LAFFEY (DD-459) and engaged in action against the enemy on the night of 13 November 1942. Commander Doyle, after his ship caught fire aft, immediately organized a fire-fighting party from personnel assembled near his station at After Conn, and the fire mains being ruptured, so efficiently fought this fire with ammunition cases filled with water and passed from hand to hand, and later with a small gasoline handy-billy that the fire was brought under control. However, oil from the LAFFEY’s tanks again became ignited and in spite of the immediate danger of a general explosion and the constant danger from small explosions of powder in the area, he fought this fire until all hope of saving his ship had to be abandoned. At this time, and on his advice, the Commanding Officer gave the order to abandon ship and Commander Doyle proceeded to see that this order was executed in the most efficient manner possible under the circumstances. While waiting in a lifeboat to take the Captain away from the burning ship, the ship exploded in Commander Doyle’s face wounding him painfully and casting him into the sea some distance from his lifeboat. In spite of the fact that he was wounded in this explosion, he efficiently directed the gathering together of the surviving personnel into a group from which they could be efficiently rescued. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.