Kenneth E. Huntington

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Kenneth E. Huntington (0-31342), Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Fighting Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWELVE (VMF-112), embarked from the U.S.S. BENNINGTON (CV-20), in aerial combat against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet in the East China Sea, on 7 April 1945. Joining torpedo planes in a co-ordinate attack on the enemy surface force, Second Lieutenant Huntington dived perilously low over the target in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire to launch his bomb on a hostile cruiser’s forward turret and, succeeding in silencing its guns, contributed materially to the subsequent sinking of the Japanese vessel. His outstanding airmanship and devotion to the fulfillment of a hazardous mission were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

SPOT AWARD, Carrier Task Force, Pacific: Serial 0592