Lieutenant Commander
JOHN RUSSELL DALE
U.S. Naval Reserve
Commanding Officer
Composite Squadron VC-20
NAVY CROSS
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Washington
The President of the United States takes pride in
Presenting the NAVY CROSS to
JOHN RUSSELL DALE, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
"For extraordinary heroism in action on October 25, 1944, while serving as commanding officer of Composite Squadron 20 (VC-20) embarked from the U.S.S. Kadashan Bay during the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
For the President,
/s/ James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy