The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander William Bismarck Thomas (NSN: 0-77119), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. CROAKER (SS-246), during the FIFTH War Patrol of that Submarine in the enemy Japanese-controlled waters of the Java Sea from 15 May to 5 June 1945. Boldly fighting his vessel during this patrol, Commander Thomas carried out five night surface attacks which resulted in the destruction of three of four ships of an enemy convoy. After maneuvering his submarine to sink a tanker in the convoy, he launched an attack on an escorting submarine chaser and succeeded in sinking it with one torpedo. When heavy seas caused the next two attacks to fail, Commander Thomas courageously attacked a fifth time and, in the face of heavy machine-gun and 3-inch shell fire, torpedoed and sank a second tanker. His able leadership and aggressive fighting spirit throughout the entire patrol were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.