Carland Edward Brunmier

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Carland Edward Brunmier, Lieutenant Commander [then 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 FORTY-FOUR (VF-44), embarked from the U.S.S. LANGLEY (CV-27), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Battle for Leyte Gulf, on 25 October 1944. After one of our carriers had been seriously damaged, Lieutenant Commander Brunmier courageously led his division in a daring attack against twelve Japanese fighter planes within a much larger formation and, despite the overwhelming odds, succeeded in destroying three enemy planes, thereby contributing in large measure to the dispersal of the hostile forces at a critical time when it was within thirty miles of our surface units. By his splendid airmanship and gallant devotion to duty, Lieutenant Commander Brunmier upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Commander, 2d Carrier Task Force, Pacific: Serial 0568 (December 22, 1944)