Francis Xavier Mcinerney

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Francis Xavier McInerney, Captain, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander, Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-ONE, as part of a task force during landing operations on 5 – 6 July 1943, in the Solomon Islands. Captain McInerney, in the face of intense hostile gun and torpedo fire, led his group through restricted, submarine-infested waters to effectively bombard enemy shore batteries. The following day, the same task force participated in an engagement with an enemy force and sank or damaged all hostile craft. When a cruiser of his own group was sunk, he returned with two destroyers and directed the rescue of 700 survivors, finally abandoning these activities to attack and sink two other enemy vessels and badly damage a third. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 321 (December 1943)