Jackson Dominick Arnold

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Jackson Dominick Arnold, Commander [then Commander], U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Group Commander and Flight Leader in Bombing Fighting Squadron TWO (VBF-2), embarked from the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-12), during action against enemy Japanese forces in the First Battle of the Philippine Sea on 20 June 1944. Participating in a strike against hostile surface units, Admiral Arnold scored a damaging near miss on a carrier and directed his flight in damaging and probably destroying the enemy vessel and in obtaining a torpedo hit on a cruiser. After leading his flight back to base, he assisted several in his group in landing under extremely difficult conditions and in darkness before boarding his carrier. By his skill as an airman and leadership, Admiral Arnold upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.