The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant Harold H. Millar, Jr. (MCSN: 0-21302), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Pilot attached to Marine Torpedo-Bombing Squadron TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO (VMTB-232), Marine Air Group FOURTEEN (MAG-14), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the New Britain Area on 4 and 7 January 1944. Taking part in an engagement against a large concentration of hostile warships and merchant vessels in the strongly fortified harbor of Rabaul on 4 January, First Lieutenant Millar drove home a determined and accurate attack and, despite fierce opposition from enemy ships, gun emplacements on shore and fighter planes, scored a direct hit with a 2,000-pound bomb, sinking a Japanese vessel. Three days later, during a similar engagement, he daringly maneuvered his bomber through devastating anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighter planes and, attacking the hostile ships at point-blank range, hit a large cargo vessel, which, torn by explosions, caught fire and probably sank. By his unyielding determination to destroy the Japanese ship, he flew so close that the wing of his plane struck the mast and he crashed into the water. First Lieutenant Millar’s superb bravery in the face of grave peril and indomitable fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.