William LEO Reardon, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to William Leo Reardon, Jr., Ensign, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber of Bombing Squadron FOURTEEN (VB-14), embarked from the U.S.S. WASP (CV-18), in action on 26 October 1944, while deployed over the Sibuyan Sea during the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the Philippine Islands. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.