Herbert Norman Houck

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Herbert Norman Houck, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Commanding Officer of Fighting Squadron NINE (VF-9), in action on 16 February 1944, at Truk in the Caroline Islands. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross to Herbert Norman Houck, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane and Commanding Officer of Air Group NINE (AG-9), embarked from the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-10), in action on 7 April 1945, while deployed over Kyushu, Japan. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Herbert Norman Houck, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron NINE (VF-9), embarked from the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), in action on 11 November 1943, while deployed over Rabaul. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.