Philip Augustine Donahue

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Philip Augustine Donahue, Chief Boatswain’s Mate, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a member of a repair party on board the Light Cruiser U.S.S. BOISE (CL-47), during action against enemy Japanese naval forces off Savo Island during the Battle of Cape Esperance on the night of 11 – 12 October 1942. Chief Boatswain’s Mate Donahue dove into a flooded compartment, un-dogged an escape scuttle in the deck and attached a line to the scuttle. Swimming to the surface, he assisted in pulling the scuttle open and releasing a man trapped in the lower compartment. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.
Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 319 (October 1943)