Curtis Leroy Cameron

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Curtis Leroy Cameron, Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade], U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron EIGHTY-SEVEN (VB-87), attached to the U.S.S. TICONDEROGA (CV-14), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Kure, Japan, on 28 July 1945. Braving intense enemy anti-aircraft fire from the ship and from shore batteries before, during and after the attack, Lieutenant Cameron skillfully pressed home his bombing run against the enemy cruiser TONE, scoring a direct hit with a 1000-pound bomb and contributing materially to the beaching of the hostile vessel. Lieutenant Cameron’s airmanship and courageous devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Commander, 2d Carrier Task Force, Pacific: Serial 01812 (September 15, 1945)