Perry Love Teaff

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Perry Love Teaff, Ensign, U.S. Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession, extraordinary courage and disregard of his own safety, while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane of Scouting Squadron SIX (VS-6), embarked from the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. In order to search for and attack the enemy, Ensign Teaff unhesitatingly took off from the Naval Air Station, Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, in a plane which had already been damaged by enemy fire, and continued with a defective engine at a time when no chance for rescue existed. Ensign Teaff’s outstanding courage, daring airmanship and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.