Charles Walter Brewer

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Charles Walter Brewer (0-073306), Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Commanding Officer of Fighting Squadron FIFTEEN (VF-15), embarked from the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Marianas Islands on 19 June 1944. Commander Brewer led component parts of his squadron to intercept Japanese airplanes attempting to reach our fleet and personally accounted for 3 of the 60 enemy planes destroyed. Later, he led the six planes remaining aboard the ESSEX to Guam and, in the face of overwhelming odds, shot down two enemy planes and contributed to the destruction or rout of the remainder. Commander Brewer’s outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 334 (January 1945)