Bernard Lige Austin

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Bernard Lige Austin (0-58722), Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander, Destroyer Division FORTY-SIX, during an engagement with Japanese naval forces at Cape St. George during the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, on 24 and 25 November 1943. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 336 (March 1945)

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Bernard Lige Austin (0-58722), Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander, Destroyer Division FORTY-SIX (DesDiv 46), during a night surface engagement with a large Japanese Task Force on the night of 1 – 2 November 1943. During this period the Task Force, of which Destroyer Division 46 was a unit, destroyed two Japanese cruisers and three Japanese destroyers and forced the remainder of the Japanese forces to flee ignominiously towards their bases under hot pursuit by our forces, thereby preventing the Japanese Task Force from reaching our transports in the vicinity and materially contributing to the successful establishment of our beachhead on Bougainville Island. By his fearlessness, calmness and gallant determination to duty, maintained at great risk in the face of grave danger throughout the three- hour battle was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Commander, Southern Pacific Forces: Serial 00162 (January 14, 1944)