Lewis Rumph Timberlake, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lewis Rumph Timberlake, Jr., Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron FIFTEEN (VT-15), embarked from the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), in action against enemy Japanese surface forces over the Sibuyan Sea during the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the Philippine Islands on 25 October 1944. In the face of heavy and accurate antiaircraft fire, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Timberlake participated in a vigorous and determined glide-bombing attack on enemy ships, scoring a torpedo hit from close range on an enemy carrier, contributing materially to its sinking. Undaunted in the face of relentless, devastating antiaircraft fire, he rendered gallant service during the bitterly fought engagement in which all carriers, a light cruiser and a destroyer of the enemy’s task force were sunk and heavy bomb and torpedo damage inflicted on battleships and other important naval units. By his daring airmanship, exceptional courage and steadfast devotion to duty through a perilous assignment, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Timberlake contributed materially to the sinking of this valuable enemy fighting unit and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 338 (May 1945)