COMMANDER ALAN ROBERTS McFARLAND, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. BACHE during operations against enemy Japanese forces off Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Chain, from April 1 to June 2, 1945. Coolly vigilant as he patrolled the hazardous waters of his assigned picket station, Commander (then Lieutenant Commander) McFarland boldly met the savage challenge of Japanese kamikaze planes, hurling the full force of his gun-batteries at the aggressors and fighting off repeated attacks with unfaltering skill and accuracy to effect the destruction of seven hostile aircraft by his ship’s gunfire and two additional planes by Combat Air Patrol under his direction. Rendering valiant support during 15 days of intensive combat action, he unhesitatingly proceeded to the assistance of other vessels in his group as they sustained serious damage under the enemy’s fanatic suicide dives, providing prompt fire-fighting and medical aid to the damaged craft and assisting in the rescue of numerous survivors despite the constant threat of renewed aerial attack. A forceful leader, Commander McFarland, by his superb ship-handling, consistently sound judgement and unrelenting aggressiveness in the face of tremendous opposition, contributed essentially to the safety of all our forces in the Okinawa Area, and his conduct throughout sustained and enhanced the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Commander McFarland joined the Legion of Valor in 1988 and resided in Pennsylvania.