Lieutenant Commander
JOHN EDWARD PACE
U.S. Navy
Commanding Officer
USS JOHN C. BUTLER (DE 339)
NAVY CROSS
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Washington
The President of the United States takes pride in
Presenting the NAVY CROSS to
JOHN EDWARD PACE, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
UNITED STATES NAVY
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
"The President of the United States of America takes pleasurein presenting the Navy Cross to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] John Edward Pace, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer Escort U.S.S. JOHN C. BUTLER (DE-339), during action against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet, in the Battle off Samar Island, 25 October 1944. When a formidable column of Japanese battleships, cruisers and destroyers attacked our small Task Unit of Escort Carriers, Commander Pace closed on the hostile disposition and, skillfully maneuvering his ship to avoid crippling blows from the continuous bombardment of enemy gunfire, launched a short-range torpedo attack, thereby diverting hostile fire from our almost defenseless carriers to his own ship. By his heroic action, he contributed materially to the eventual rout of this vastly superior enemy force and his courage, leadership and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
For the President,
/s/ James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy