Richard LEO Cevoli

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Richard Leo Cevoli, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron EIGHTEEN (VF-18), in action against major units of the Japanese Fleet during the Battle for Leyte Gulf from 24 to 26 October 1944. Diving with eight other fighters through intense anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant Cevoli strafed the largest ship of an enemy battleship force in the Sibuyan Sea, silencing many anti-aircraft weapons and inflicting casualties on enemy personnel. Attacking a Japanese carrier force off Northeastern Luzon the following day, he dived through a terrific barrage of anti-aircraft fire and seriously damaged the carrier with a 500-pound bomb hit. Again participating in an attack on the enemy’s battleship force in the Sibuyan Sea, Lieutenant Cevoli disregarded the terrific anti-aircraft opposition and scored a near- miss on a KONGO Class battleship with a 500-pound bomb. Then, pulling out he made a second run to strafe a destroyer, silencing its anti-aircraft weapons and thereby contributing to our successful bombing and torpedo attacks which followed. Lieutenant Cevoli’s outstanding courage and determination were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Commander, 2d Carrier Task Force, Pacific: Serial 01410