The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Second Lieutenant William Warner Eldridge, Jr. (MCSN: 0-29014), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Fighting Squadron FOUR HUNDRED FORTY-ONE (VMF-441), Marine Air Group THIRTY-ONE (MAG-31), FOURTH Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Islands, on 16 April 1945. While flying as a Member of a twelve-plane combat air patrol, First Lieutenant Eldridge and his patrol answered distress calls and located a flight of approximately twenty-five enemy aircraft attempting to destroy a United States fighter director ship by suicide attacks. Boldly engaging the hostile formation, he pressed home a determined attack to destroy four planes, thereby aiding materially in repulsing the Japanese attack and in saving the ship. His gallant conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.