Ralph Waldo Cummings

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ralph Waldo Cummings, Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade], U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron TEN (VT-10), embarked from the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Marianas Islands, during the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 20 June 1944. Participating in a daring strike against the main Japanese Fleet, Lieutenant Cummings selected an enemy aircraft carrier as his target and, fearlessly pressing home his attacks in the face of fierce fighter opposition and intense anti- aircraft fire from surrounding warships, succeeded in scoring a direct hit on the enemy carrier and caused a terrific explosion, assisting essentially in the probable sinking of the hostile ship. By his brilliant airmanship, aggressive fighting spirit and unswerving devotion to duty, Lieutenant Cummings contributed materially to the success of our operations in this historic engagement, and his great personal valor in the face of grave peril was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Commander, Fast Carrier Task Force, Pacific: Serial 0247 (July 15, 1944)