Arleigh Albert Burke

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Arleigh Albert Burke, Captain, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander of a Destroyer Squadron operating in the Northern Solomon Islands area during the period from midnight 30 October to noon 2 November 1943. Captain Burke’s squadron, as a part of a task force, participated in the first bombardment of the Buka-Bonis area and in the first daylight bombardment of the Shortland area. During the night of November 1 – 2, a heavier gunned Japanese naval force was met and decisively defeated with the loss to the enemy of one cruiser and four destroyers sunk, and an additional two cruisers and two destroyers damaged. The action contributed much to the success of our operations at Empress Augusta Bay. Thereafter, a heavy air attack by sixty-seven enemy dive bombers was fought off with a total of seventeen enemy planes being destroyed. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.