Paul F. Stevens

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Paul F. Stevens, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy PBY Patrol Plane in Patrol-Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED FOUR (VPB-104), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Mindoro, Philippine Islands, on the night of 26 December 1944. Sighting a large enemy Task Force which was en route to attack our newly-established base at Mindoro, Lieutenant Stevens accurately reported his contacts and alerted the base, with the result that defensive aircraft were dispatched to the scene and preparations were made to avert the destruction of the garrison and shipping. In addition to warning the base of approaching danger, he courageously pressed home an attack in the face of intense antiaircraft fire from the Naval batteries to score at lease two direct hits on a Yamato type battleship. Lieutenant Stevens’ aggressive devotion to duty in detecting the convoy and tracking it for twenty-four hours was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.