Emmett Thomas King
Born: May 5, 1909 at San Francisco, California
Home Town: Long Beach, California
Navy Cross
World War II
U.S. Navy
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Emmett Thomas King, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane embarked from the U.S.S. SANTEE (CVE-29), in action on 25 October 1944, while deployed over Samar during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, in the Philippine Islands. Lieutenant King’s outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.