Horace Dewain Bryan

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Horace Dewain Bryan (0-278234), Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane in Composite Squadron EIGHTY (VC-8), embarked from the U.S.S. MANILA BAY (CVE-61), in action against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet in the Camotes Sea Area of the Philippine Islands, on 26 October 1944. Taking off from his parent carrier in pursuit of the fleeing remnants of the Japanese task force which had been heavily bettered by our carrier forces on the previous day, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Bryan voluntarily carried out a long-range strike in company with planes from several other squadrons and, plunging through a heavy curtain of merciless anti-aircraft fire, upon contact with the enemy, executed a daring bomb attack to score two direct hits on a hostile cruiser, leaving the Japanese warship disabled and smoking heavily. Determined to annihilate the enemy force, he continued his bold tactics, releasing his rockets in a low altitude run which inflicted serous damage below the water line on an enemy destroyer. Stout-hearted and aggressive in the face of fanatic opposition, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Bryan, by his superb airmanship, indomitable fighting spirit and tenacious perseverance in the fulfillment of an urgent mission, contributed ,materially to the final rout of the Japanese Fleet and his undaunted courage throughout a period of fierce hostilities upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Commander, 7th Fleet: Serial 02520 (March 4, 1945)