Joe Frederick Ball

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Joe Frederick Ball, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy PBY-5 Patrol Plane in Patrol-Bombing Squadron THIRTY-FOUR (VPB-34), after the U.S.S. COOPER (DD-695), was struck by a torpedo while engaging Japanese surface craft and barges in the waters of Ormoc Bay, Leyte, Philippine Islands on 3 December 1944. The COOPER broke in two and sank in less than a minute, resulting in the loss of 191 crew members and 168 survivors left struggling in the water. Lieutenant Ball and his crew were returning from a long-range reconnaissance mission and spotted the survivors floating in the bay. Lieutenant Ball landed his Catalina in the bay and proceeded over the next hour to pick up survivors within range of enemy shore fire. He rescued 56 sailors from the bay, and when the aircraft could hold no more he began a takeoff run that took three miles before liftoff could be achieved. He safely returned to his base with his passengers, many of them wounded. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.