Stockton Birney Strong

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Stockton Birney Strong, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane and Section Leader in Scouting Squadron TEN (VS-10), embarked from the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), during the engagement with enemy Japanese naval and air forces near the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942. Intercepting a radio report which gave the location of enemy carriers in a sector widely separated from his own, Lieutenant Commander Strong, instead of returning to his carrier as the normal call of duty required, continued toward the enemy ships, knowing full well that he would meet with overwhelming numbers of Japanese fighters and that he might run out of fuel. In attaining position he eluded the enemy fighters and dived toward a large Japanese carrier of the SHOKAKU class, scoring a direct hit on the flight deck. During their retirement, while Lieutenant Commander Strong and his comrades fought off repeated attacks by enemy aircraft, sending one down in flames, he transmitted a complete radio report of his action and then led his men safely back to their carrier. Lieutenant Commander Strong’s outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 316 (July 1943)

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross to Stockton Birney Strong, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Plane in Air Group EIGHTY-FIVE, in action on 24 July 1945, while deployed over Kure, Japan. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Stockton Birney Strong, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane in Scouting Squadron FIVE (VS-5), embarked from the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces at Tulagi Harbor on 4 May 1942, and in the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7 and 8 May 1942. These attacks, vigorously and persistently pressed home in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, and on 8 May opposed also by enemy fighters, resulted in the sinking or damaging of at least eight enemy Japanese vessels at Tulagi and the sinking of one carrier and the sinking or severe damaging of another in the Coral Sea. Lieutenant Commander Strong’s conscientious devotion to duty and gallant self-command against formidable odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.