Thomas Ewings Boyce

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Thomas Ewings Boyce (0-121217), Lieutenant, 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 SEVEN (VT-7), embarked from the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), in action against enemy Japanese forces in Philippine waters during the Air Battle of Leyte Gulf on 25 October 1944. as Pilot of a carrier- based Navy Torpedo Plane in a torpedo attack, Lieutenant Boyce flew in a glide bombing attack on a strong formation of the Japanese Fleet in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands in the Second Battle of the Philippines. He scored two damaging hits on a battleship at the center of the fleet formation by the exercise of fearless and skillful airmanship, in spite of the withering concentration of anti-aircraft fire through which he had to attack, and the evasive maneuvering of the battleship. His display of dauntless offensive spirit and courage were in a large measure responsible for the success of the attacks and were at all times in keeping with the highest tradition of the United States Naval Service.

Commander, 2d Carrier Task Force, Pacific: Serial 01060 (January 22, 1945)