Frank J. Reiser

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Frank J. Reiser, Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant], U.S. Navy, 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. SANGAMON (CVE-26), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Battle off Samar on 25 October 1944, in the Philippine Islands. When our escort carriers were under attack by heavy units of the Japanese Fleet, Lieutenant Commander Reiser led a group of six fighter planes in a strafing and bombing attack against the enemy force and, pressing home his attack despite intense and accurate antiaircraft fire, contributed materially to the forced retirement of the enemy warships. His airmanship, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.