William Howell Woodson

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to William Howell Woodson, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier- based Navy Combat Plane embarked from the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CVL-10), while participating in aerial combat against the Japanese Fleet in the Marianas Islands, during the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 20 June 1944. By his airmanship and cool courage in the face of tremendous odds, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Woodson contributed materially to the infliction of extensive and costly damage on the Japanese Fleet in this decisive engagement and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.