Robert Lawrence Clancy

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Robert Lawrence Clancy, 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 Dive Bomber of Bombing Squadron EIGHTEEN (VB-18), embarked from the U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea on 25 October 1944. Braving intense anti-aircraft fire and adverse weather conditions, Lieutenant Clancy pressed home a vigorous attack to score a hit on an enemy battleship with his full bomb load, thereby contributing materially to the annihilation of a hostile Task Force. By his outstanding airmanship and courageous fighting spirit, Lieutenant Clancy aided in removing a serious threat to our ground forces and his unswerving devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Commander, 1st Carrier Task Force, Pacific: Serial 0533 (September 11, 1945)