Commander
RICHARD LABITT FOWLER
U.S. Navy
Commanding Officer
Composite Squadron VC-5
NAVY CROSS
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Washington
The President of the United States takes pride in
Presenting the NAVY CROSS to
RICHARD LABITT FOWLER, COMMANDER
UNITED STATES NAVY
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
"For extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane and Commanding Officer of Composite Squadron FIVE (VC-5), embarked from the U.S.S. KITKUN BAY (CVE-71), in action against a large enemy Japanese fleet off Samar Island, Philippine Islands, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf on 25 October 1944. 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