Louis LEE Bangs

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Louis Lee Bangs, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron TEN (VB-10), embarked from the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), while participating in aerial combat against the Japanese Fleet in the Marianas Islands, during the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 20 June 1944. By his airmanship and cool courage in the face of tremendous odds, Lieutenant Commander Bangs contributed materially to the infliction of extensive and costly damage on the Japanese Fleet in this decisive engagement and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.