William Oscar Burch, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to William Oscar Burch, Jr., Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane and Commanding Officer of Scouting Squadron FIVE (VS-5), embarked from the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces at Tulagi Harbor on 4 May 1942, and in the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7 and 8 May 1942. Due to Lieutenant Commander Burch’s distinguished and capable leadership, the high combat efficiency attained by units under his command enabled them to deliver five aggressive and exceptionally successful dive-bombing attacks, the first at Tulagi Harbor on 4 May in which at least eight enemy Japanese vessels were destroyed or severely damaged, and later on 7 May, when an enemy carrier was sunk. On 8 May his squadron succeeded in sinking or severely damaging another enemy Japanese carrier and contributed materially to the success of our forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Lieutenant Commander Burch’s conscientious devotion to duty and gallant self-command against formidable odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross to William Oscar Burch, Jr., Lieutenant Commander [then Commander], U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Executive Officer of the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. TICONDEROGA (CV-14), when that ship was hit by an enemy Kamikaze airplane while deployed off Formosa, on 21 January 1945. Organizing fire-fighting crews on the hangar deck after his ship had been hit, Burch was the first to take a hose into the fire despite the billowing flames and continuous ammunition explosions although his clothes caught fire on two occasions. After the fire-fighting crews were functioning, he made his way to secondary control and manned his exposed battle station until severely wounded by shrapnel. Refusing to go to Sick Bay, he gave orders to be carried to the flight deck where he directed the fire fighting until the flames were under control. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to William Oscar Burch, Jr., Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane and Flight Leader in Scouting Squadron FIVE (VS-5), embarked from the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces near Salamaua and Lae, New Guinea, on 10 March 1942. Lieutenant Commander Burch fearlessly led his squadron over high mountains and dense jungles of New Guinea in a dive-bombing attack against three enemy airplane tenders or transports. He and his squadron scored seven direct hits and eight very near misses against the hostile vessels, one direct hit being made by Lieutenant Commander Burch personally, contributed materially to the sinking of the three Japanese ships.